Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has officially concluded his illustrious career with Chennai Super Kings, a team with which he secured four IPL titles across various roles. From the 2025 season, Bravo will take on a new challenge as a mentor for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Bravo met with KKR CEO Venky Mysore during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) before committing to a long-term contract. His responsibilities will extend beyond KKR to cover all franchises under the Knight Riders brand in T20 leagues, including Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), Los Angeles Knight Riders (MLC), and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ILT20).
Mysore expressed excitement about Bravo joining the team, noting that his "unwavering desire to win, combined with his vast experience and deep insights, will be invaluable to both the franchise and the players."
Bravo, who turns 41 in October, steps into the mentor role previously held by Gautam Gambhir, who became India's head coach after guiding KKR to their third IPL title in 2024. Additionally, KKR lost two assistant coaches, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, who also moved into India's coaching setup. At KKR, Bravo will work alongside head coach Chandrakant Pandit and bowling coach Bharat Arun.
In a statement, Bravo reflected on his long association with the Knight Riders franchise, saying, "I’ve been with Trinbago Knight Riders for the last 10 years in the CPL, and I’ve always respected how they operate, whether playing for or against them. The passion of the owners, the professionalism of the management, and the family-like atmosphere make this an ideal platform for me as I transition into mentoring and coaching the next generation."
This will be Bravo's second coaching role in the IPL. After joining Chennai Super Kings in 2011 and retiring from IPL action following the 2022 season, he took up the role of CSK’s bowling coach in 2023, where he immediately contributed to their title win that year. Bravo’s legacy includes being one of the most effective death bowlers in T20 cricket, ranking as the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and the first player to claim two purple caps.
With over 500 T20 matches under his belt, Bravo is regarded as a tactical genius and motivational leader, attributes that earned him the West Indies captaincy. Following his retirement from international cricket after the 2021 T20 World Cup, Bravo continued playing in T20 leagues such as ILT20, MLC, and CPL while slowly shifting towards coaching. Notably, during the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bravo played a pivotal role as a consultant coach for Afghanistan, helping them reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history.