Published By: Sanchari Das

Not a Newcomer: Bravo’s Deep-Rooted Ties to Knight Riders Unveiled!

His extensive experience across global franchises, especially with Knight Riders teams, makes him the ideal candidate to shape the future of KKR and its sister franchises

In a significant development, Dwayne Bravo, the celebrated West Indies all-rounder, has been appointed as the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2025 season. This marks a new phase for Bravo, who announced his retirement from all formats of cricket in September 2024 after suffering a groin injury. The IPL defending champions see Bravo’s addition as a pivotal move as they aim to maintain their dominance in the league. Bravo replaces Gautam Gambhir, who transitioned into the head coach role for the Indian national team, leaving big shoes to fill at KKR.

A chapter closes with CSK

Bravo’s move to KKR also ends his long-standing association with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he served as the bowling coach during the IPL 2024 season. He had a fruitful stint with CSK, contributing both as a player and mentor, but the opportunity with KKR offers new horizons. His retirement followed a groin injury during the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which cut short his final season.

Bravo’s career, particularly in T20 cricket, has been legendary, and his exit from CSK marks the end of one of the most successful player-coach partnerships in IPL history.

A broader role within the Knight Riders franchises

Bravo’s connection with the Knight Riders franchise is not confined to KKR alone. As KKR CEO Venky Mysore announced, Bravo will play a vital role globally across all Knight Riders franchises. This includes Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the CPL, the team Bravo has represented for most of his career, the Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket (MLC) and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the UAE’s ILT20. Mysore emphasized Bravo’s winning mentality and vast experience as assets that would benefit the KKR squad and Knight Riders’ global network, reflecting Bravo’s growing influence on the T20 landscape worldwide.

Bravo’s success with TKR

Although Bravo has primarily represented CSK and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, his relationship with the Knight Riders franchise is deeply rooted in his time with Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the CPL. Bravo led TKR to consecutive CPL titles in 2017 and 2018 and guided the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots to their maiden title in 2021.

His leadership and experience were instrumental in TKR’s dominance, making them the most successful team in CPL history. His association with the Knight Riders began when the franchise acquired the then-Red Steel in 2015, rebranding them as TKR in 2016.

Final CPL match an emotional farewell

Bravo’s final CPL match was bittersweet, marked by an emotional farewell. After suffering a groin injury during a match against the St Lucia Kings, Bravo could not complete the game, which became his last appearance in the tournament. Batting at number 11, Bravo could face only one ball before retiring hurt. Tributes poured in from around the cricket world, with Kieron Pollard, his TKR teammate, and Faf du Plessis praising Bravo’s contribution to cricket. His legacy in the CPL includes five titles and 129 wickets, cementing his status as the tournament’s most successful player.

A trailblazer in T20 cricket

Dwayne Bravo’s T20 career is nothing short of extraordinary. He is the highest wicket-taker in T20 history, with 631 wickets in 582 matches, making him an iconic figure in the format. His innovative slower balls and death bowling set him apart as one of the finest all-rounders in T20 cricket. Bravo also made significant contributions with the bat, scoring 6,970 runs, including seven World Cup appearances and winning two titles. His influence extends beyond individual accolades, with his leadership and charisma inspiring players across leagues globally.