Gautam Gambhir has approached the BJP’s head, Jagat Prakash Nadda, with a request to be excused from his political roles prior to the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This move is to ensure he can wholeheartedly commit to his new position as coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Gambhir shared on X, stating, “I have respectfully asked Hon’ble Party President JP Nadda ji for a release from my political engagements to concentrate on my forthcoming cricket duties. I am deeply grateful to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi for the chance to serve the nation. Jai Hind.”
This step back from politics by Gambhir aligns with speculations about his potential exclusion from the upcoming 2024 elections. Notably, key BJP figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, are anticipated to lead the party’s initial candidate lineup for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This development follows after extended strategic meetings in Delhi, one of which was hosted by the prime minister and stretched from late night into the early hours.
Since joining BJP in March 2019, Gambhir has risen to prominence within the party’s Delhi cadre, securing a significant victory in the East Delhi constituency during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a substantial margin. His focus now shifts to the IPL, where he will take on a pivotal role with the Kolkata Knight Riders, a team he previously led to glory by winning two IPL championships.
Gambhir’s cricket legacy includes key contributions to India’s victories in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, boasting an impressive career record of 10,324 runs across 242 international matches, which includes 20 centuries and 63 fifties.
