Nearly two years after his last Indian Premier League stint — when he mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title before taking charge as India’s head coach — Gautam Gambhir has reportedly been presented with a pathway back into the IPL.
According to reports, one of the new stakeholders in the Rajasthan Royals has offered Gambhir a multi-faceted role as “partner, mentor and CEO.” The proposal reportedly includes a two-to-three per cent equity stake in the franchise, along with leadership responsibilities in the team’s management structure, amid a transition in ownership with several majority shareholders looking to sell their stakes.
However, Gambhir cannot accept the offer while serving as head coach of the Indian national team. A Supreme Court ruling based on the Lodha Committee’s recommendations prevents individuals from holding simultaneous positions with an IPL franchise and the Indian team due to conflict-of-interest concerns.
If he were to take up Rajasthan’s proposal, Gambhir would need to step down from his role with Team India. Sources close to him have declined to comment but suggest he remains fully committed to his current assignment. His tenure as India head coach runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Since retiring from international cricket, Gambhir has worked with multiple IPL franchises. He mentored the Lucknow Super Giants from 2022 to 2023, guiding them to consecutive playoff appearances, before returning to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. In July 2024, he succeeded Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach.
At present, Gambhir is overseeing India’s T20 World Cup campaign at home. The defending champions have secured wins over the USA, Namibia and Pakistan to book a place in the Super 8s, with one group-stage match remaining against the Netherlands later this week.
