Ottis Gibson: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made a key coaching change ahead of IPL 2025, bringing in experienced coach Ottis Gibson as their new assistant coach. Gibson replaces Ryan ten Doeschate, who departed KKR after IPL 2024 to join the Indian national team’s coaching staff. The move is part of a broader restructuring within KKR, following the departure of mentor Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer.
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Ottis Gibson : IPL 2025 – KKR Appoints T20 World Cup Winning Ottis Gibson as Assistant Coach
Ottis Gibson: A Coach with Global Experience
Gibson, a former West Indies fast bowler, brings a wealth of experience to the KKR setup. His coaching career spans over a decade, having served as head coach of both the West Indies and South Africa men’s national teams. Notably, he guided the West Indies to their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2012. Additionally, Gibson has had multiple stints as England’s bowling coach and has worked with Bangladesh’s national team and various T20 franchises worldwide.
KKR’s Coaching Reshuffle for IPL 2025
KKR has undergone significant changes ahead of the new season. Some of the major shifts in their setup include:
- Captaincy Change: Ajinkya Rahane has been named the new captain, with Venkatesh Iyer as his deputy, replacing Shreyas Iyer, who was released before the mega auction.
- Mentorship Switch: Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has replaced Gautam Gambhir as team mentor.
- Coaching Stability: Despite these changes, KKR retains its core coaching staff, including head coach Chandrakant Pandit, bowling coach Bharat Arun, spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe, and strategic consultant Nathan Leamon.
Gibson’s Role in KKR’s Title Defense
As the defending IPL champions, KKR will aim to retain their crown in 2025. Gibson’s expertise in bowling and overall team strategy will be crucial in strengthening the squad’s performance. His experience in managing high-pressure T20 situations and developing pace bowlers could be a significant boost for KKR’s bowling attack.
KKR’s IPL 2025 Opener
KKR will kick off their title defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens on March 22, 2025. This match will mark Ottis Gibson’s first official assignment as KKR’s assistant coach.
KKR Squad for IPL 2025
Batters: Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane.
All-Rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell.
Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson, Umran Malik, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy.
With the inclusion of a seasoned coach like Ottis Gibson and a strong squad in place, KKR will look to continue their dominance in IPL 2025. Fans will be eager to see how these strategic changes impact their performance on the field.
FAQs
Who is Ottis Gibson?
Ottis Gibson is a former West Indies fast bowler and an experienced coach. He led West Indies to their first T20 World Cup title in 2012 and has worked with England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and various T20 franchises.
Why did KKR replace Ryan ten Doeschate?
Ryan ten Doeschate left KKR to join the Indian national team’s coaching staff after IPL 2024, leading to the appointment of Ottis Gibson as his replacement.
