Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore, in conversation with Mr. Anis Sajan (aka Mr. Cricket UAE), hailed Gautam Gambhir’s unwavering commitment to victory as a defining force behind the franchise’s Indian Premier League (IPL) success.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Mr Cricket UAE Podcast, Mysore revisited KKR’s championship years, shared insights into the franchise’s auction strategy including their strong pursuit of Cameron Green and expressed confidence ahead of IPL 2026.
Gambhir’s Leadership: The Turning Point for KKR Mysore described Gambhir as the foundation of KKR’s resurgence, revealing that the former India opener was the very first player he secured after joining the franchise in 2011.
“Gautam was amazing. First and foremost, he was the very first player I picked once I joined Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 Auction. His name came first, we picked him first and it was a great association when he led the team. We won both championships, we won under him as captain.” said Mysore.
He emphasized Gambhir’s single-minded focus on winning and his ability to rally the squad, particularly during the 2014 season in the UAE, a campaign that saw KKR lift their second IPL trophy despite Gambhir enduring three consecutive ducks at the start of the tournament.
“Just for people who don’t remember, 2014, when the championship happened in UAE, Gautam Gambhir, I guess, had made four or five [three] ducks. And I was fortunate enough to see one game with Shah Rukh Khan in Sheikh Zayed Stadium. And I remember he was telling me, this guy is going to make me win the championship, even though he has made four or five ducks. And the rest is history.”
Drawing parallels with young left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, who is currently going through a lean patch in the T20 World Cup 2026, Mysore reiterated the importance of backing quality players during tough phases.
“After Gautam got his series of ducks initially, he came up to me, and he said if you have to bench me, you should bench me. Then I said to him, Gautam, if you had played 50-60 balls and not scored runs, I would have said, ‘You are out of form’. You played only 5-6 balls, and you scored 4 ducks. How can you say you are out of form? The same holds true for Abhishek Sharma. I think he is a quality player. Sometimes it’s just that one ball hitting the middle of the bat; things can change. Maybe the next game is going to be his game”
Auction Strategy and the Cameron Green Pursuit Turning to KKR’s approach for IPL 2026, Mysore underlined the franchise’s meticulous preparation at auctions and revealed their strong intent around marquee all-rounder Cameron Green.
“I think when it comes to auctions, there’s so much preparation that goes in. You might see me there with the paddle. We were the first ones to use analytics in the auction from 2011. At that time, if you remember, we cleaned the slate, released everybody, went with the full purse, built a team which has paid dividends. So, we think the strategies we adopt are solid.”
On their aggressive pursuit of Green, Mysore signaled the franchise’s ambition to secure players who fit both their skill and strategic framework.
KKR’s auction philosophy, he explained, is rooted in data-backed decision-making combined with a clear understanding of team balance and long-term vision.
Sustained Success Built on Structure Despite multiple leadership changes over the years including different captains and head coaches, Mysore highlighted KKR’s consistency as evidence of a strong foundational strategy.
“Over the last 15-16 years, if you look at win-loss ratios across teams, we always rank among the top two. We have about a 55-56 percent win ratio.”
With a balanced squad, experienced support staff, and a data-driven blueprint, Mysore expressed optimism for the upcoming campaign.
“Ultimately, when they go out and cross that boundary line, go on the field, it’s the players who have to make it happen. So, I think we have an outstanding team, we have a great support staff and the skill sets and the combination that we have is great. Now, ultimately, it has to happen on the field. So, we are always very optimistic in this class.”
As KKR gear up for IPL 2026, Mysore’s reflections underscore a recurring theme: belief in leadership, conviction in preparation, and the relentless pursuit of victory. And at the heart of that winning culture stands Gautam Gambhir, whose legacy continues to shape the Knight Riders’ journey.