Brendon McCullum reunites with KKR, joins IPL side as head coach

Brendon McCullum is returning to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This might be good news for all the McCullum fans out there and why not as he was the first showstopper of IPL. He had scored a blistering 158 against Royal Challengers Bangalore on the opening day of the showpiece tournament which laid a solid platform for what eventually turned out to be a perfect blockbuster. However, the thing is the former New Zealand skipper will not be featuring as a player but in a coaching role for the two-time winners. You have heard it right. 'Baz', who was originally hired as an assistant coach will now be serving the franchise as a head coach.

KKR confirms appointing Brendon McCullum as the head coach

That's correct. In fact, the news has been confirmed by the Kolkata franchise on Twitter in their media release. The former champions wrote that it was the announcement that everyone was waiting for and also urged the fans welcome McCullum on board as the new head coach.

It has also been written that the 37-year-old has been very closely associated with the Knight Riders franchise as a player from 2008 to 2010 and once again from 2012-13 when the franchise which is co-owned by the 'King of Bollywood' Shah Rukh Khan had won their maiden title. The Knight Riders also highlighted Baz's additional achievements in franchise cricket which include winning two consecutive Caribbean Premier League (CPL) titles for Trinbago Knight Riders (TBK) in 2017 and 2018 respectively. 

Read KKR's tweet and their media release here:

Sachin Tendulkar's Effusive 'fine Balance' Praise For New Zealand's Brendon McCullum Is A Must-read

Bazz's cricketing legacy

Brendon McCullum had recently hung up his boots from all forms cricket. He had retired from international cricket back in early 2016. He has represented New Zealand in 101 Tests, 260 ODIs and 71 T20Is. He had announced his retirement from international cricket back in early 2016. Nonetheless, he continued to play franchise cricket. He had played his last IPL in 2018 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 37-year-old had also called it a day from the Big Bash League (BBL) earlier this year where he was representing Brisbane Heat.

McCullum had also led New Zealand to their maiden World Cup final in 2015 which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. They finished as the runners-up after the Aussies had completely outplayed them in a lop-sided contest. Opening the innings, Bazz was castled by Mitchell Starc in the very first over and arguably it sealed New Zealand's fate in that summit clash. 

READ: Brendon McCullum Set To Become The Assistant Coach Of Kolkata Knight Riders