Gautam Gambhir seeks time off ‘political duties’ to focus on IPL job with Kolkata Knight Riders | Cricket News

Gautam Gambhir, the former Kolkata Knight Riders‘ (KKR) skipper, returned to the KKR camp for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season after spending two years as mentor of Lucknow Super Giants and on Saturday the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Member of Parliament from East Delhi sought the permission of party’s high command to be off “political duties” in order to focus on his role as the KKR mentor for this year’s IPL edition beginning March 22.
“I have requested Hon’ble Party President @JPNadda ji to relieve me of my political duties so that I can focus on my upcoming cricket commitments,” Gambhir wrote in a post on the microblogging website ‘X’.

In November last year, Gambhir revealed via social media that he will be back in KKR colours for the 2024 edition of the IPL. The former India opener and World Cup winner led KKR to IPL title triumphs in 2012 and 2014 as captain.
In his post on Saturday, Gambhir also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for trusting him.

“I sincerely thank Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji and Hon’ble HM @AmitShah ji for giving me the opportunity to serve the people. Jai Hind!,” read Gambhir’s post.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has so far unveiled the schedule of the first 21 matches of the 2024 season from March 22 to April 7. The shedule of remaining fixtues will be finalized once the dates of the upcoming general elections are announced by the government.