Kolkata Knight Riders appoint Brendon McCullum as coach

Kolkata Knight Riders announced that former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been appointed as their new Head Coach for the next edition of Indian Premier League in 2020.

The IPL franchise posted the news on social media, welcoming McCullum as the new Head Coach.

“The announcement you all have been waiting for! Put your hands together and welcome @Bazmccullum, our new Head Coach #WelcomeBackBaz #KorboLorboJeetbo,” read the tweet on KKR's official Twitter account.

Previously, it was reported that McCullum would take on the role of assistant coach of the IPL team.

McCullum, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket, has been closely associated with KKR as a player first from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2012-2013. He was also part of the IPL winning squad in 2012.

McCullum was also part of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) squad in the Caribbean Premier League, from 2016-2018, during which TKR won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. The TKR franchise, formerly the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, is owned by the parent company of Kolkata Knight Riders.

“It's a great honour to take on this responsibility. The Kolkata Knight Rider franchises in IPL & CPL have become iconic and have set the standard in franchise cricket. We have fantastic squads in both KKR & TKR and I along with the support staff will be looking to build on the successes both franchises have enjoyed,” McCullum said in the statement posted by the franchise.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore said, “Brendon has been an integral part of the Knight Riders family for a long time. His leadership qualities, honesty, positive & aggressive style, combined with his natural ability to bring the best out of the teams he has been part of makes him ideally suited to lead KKR & TKR as a Head Coach.”