Venky Mysore opens up on KKR’s IPL blueprint, Gautam Gambhir’s 2014 turnaround and backs Abhishek Sharma amid lean patch | Exclusive

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has opened up on his expectations for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In the most recent episode of the Mr Cricket UAE Podcast, he also reflected on the KKR’s auction strategy and the role of Gautam Gambhir in the franchise’s titular triumphs as a player and coach.

Mysore also drew a parallel between the current India head coach and young opener Abhishek Sharma, recollecting Gambhir’s struggles in IPL 2014, when he overcame a string of low scores, including a hat-trick of ducks in the first three games, to lead the team to its second title. His remarks come at a time when Abhishek, a left-handed opener like Gambhir, has accounted for three consecutive ducks and another low score in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Excerpts

Q: You were hell-bent on buying Cameron Green in the auction. How hopeful are you for IPL 2026?

I think when it comes to auction, 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.

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. But what happens is that over the last 15-16 years that I have been involved, if you look at the win-loss ratios of teams, we always rank among the top two. We've got about a 55-56 per cent win ratio.

Therefore, even though we have had different head coaches, different captains, different teams [franchise leadership changes], whatever is the strategy and approach we have used has worked. So, hopeful about this year as well, really optimistic.

Q: What was Gautam Gambhir's role in winning the titles?

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. And then he went away and did different things. We were really glad he came back, but his tenure was very short. He came for one year, but you know, the stars aligned again. So, we won the championship again in 2014. He is somebody who is deeply committed to winning. Single-minded focus on that. And of course, we had an outstanding team. But to be able to rally the team together and get them to perform was just outstanding.

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.

Q: Will you continue with Abhishek Sharma amid his poor form?

No doubt. It's almost like you brought up Gautam Gambhir's name in IPL. And it's interesting because, as a CEO, I don't get involved in selection decisions when it comes to the team. Auction, yes, strategy and all that. So, after he 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.