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IPL and CSK legend Dwayne Bravo parted ways with the franchise, opting to take up a new role as the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025, filling the position that Gautam Gambhir left. Bravo is the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and won many games single-handedly for CSK both with the bat and the ball.
Since his IPL retirement, he also served as the team's bowling coach for the 2023 and 2024 editions of the IPL.
His move to KKR definitely affects the five-time champions. Here are three reasons why Dwayne Bravo's KKR appointment is a massive blow to CSK.
#3 It's hard to replace a coach with Bravo's experience and skillset
DJ Bravo is one of the most decorated figures in T20 cricket. His extensive experience playing cricket around the world has resulted in him acquiring a specialized skillset tailor-made for limited-overs cricket. Bravo has more than 600 T20 wickets to his name, and across his long career, he has mastered many variations, becoming one of the best death bowlers in the game's history.
While there are plenty of qualified coaches in the circuit that CSK will look to replace Bravo, it's hard for them to find someone as qualified and experienced as him in T20 cricket. Bravo was still active as a player until very recently and is constantly in touch with innovations and improvements in the sport.
It will be a challenge for the Super Kings to find a replacement for him.
#2 Bravo shared great camaraderie and relationships with many CSK players and fans
DJ Bravo is as much a CSK legend as he is a legend of the West Indies. The all-rounder is one of the first names that comes to your mind when you think about the Yellow Army. Whether in his capacity as a player or a coach, he has always shared a special relationship with all the stakeholders in the franchise.
Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande are two of the many names who have blossomed into fine young bowlers under Bravo's tutelage, with Pathirana, in particular, sharing a very close bond with his coach.
While CSK will, no doubt, find a quality replacement for him, it won't be easy for them to fill the void as his personality, presence, and the close relationships he shared with many in the team were special.
#1 CSK is a team that prefers familiarity
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have become synonymous with backing their players and staff to the hilt, not making wholesale changes to their side, and always retaining their core of players and staff, building a very close-knit unit over time.
With that being the case, they were never going to enjoy IPL 2025, especially as they have to make some tough choices regarding player retentions and releases. At this crucial juncture and transition period, they would've relied heavily on the familiarity factor provided by the core support staff of the team.
In that regard, Bravo's move to KKR hurts CSK the most. They now have to not only deal with a predominantly new-look side but also do without one of their most familiar faces as their bowling coach. That will be a real challenge for Steven Fleming and Co. to overcome.
