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A passionate leader
The Knight Riders failed to reach the semis in the first three seasons of the IPL. It was only after Gambhir’s arrival in 2011 that they reached the playoffs for the very first time. In the playoffs, they lost against the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator.
The next season, KKR won the title in dramatic fashion, defeating the favourites Chennai Super Kings in their own backyard. Kolkata then won their second IPL title in 2014, defeating Kings XI Punjab and Gambhir became only the second captain ever to win the title twice.
In the seven seasons under Gambhir, KKR have won the title twice (2012, 2014) and reached the playoffs thrice (2011, 2016, 2017). Under his leadership, KKR became a powerhouse of the Indian Premier League.
The talented under-19 players in the Kolkata squad this season will surely miss someone like Gambhir. He would have been an ideal mentor and a person they can look up to. For the new skipper though, it will be hard to fill in the shoes of the most successful KKR captain.
Best finish: Winners (2012, 2014)
Playoffs: (2011, 2016, 2017)
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