Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set to become Kolkata Knight Riders’ assistant coach: Report

Brendon McCullum’s association with KKR goes back to the maiden season when he set the stage on fire with a blistering 158-run unbeaten knock in the first ever match of IPL.

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is returning to Kolkata Knight Riders but this time in a coaching role after being signed by the IPL side as assistant coach, a media report has claimed. McCullum, who retired from all forms of competitive cricket recently, will also take over as the head coach of the Caribbean Premier League side Trinbago Knight Riders, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Brendon McCullum could be next KKR assistant coach. (Getty images.)

Interestingly, he will replace Simon Katich in both the sides. With KKR he will be associated as assistant coach and at Trinbago Knight Riders he will replace the Australian as head coach. The dasher from Canterbury had retired from all forms of international cricket in 2016 but continued to ply his trade in various T20 leagues across the globe.

The former Black Caps skipper has played 101 Test matches for New Zealand and scored 6453 runs with a high score of 302. He featured in 260 ODIs and amassed 6083 runs with a strike rate of 96.37. KKR had announced that they were parting ways with Jacques Kallis, their head coach, and Katich.

McCullum’s association with KKR goes back to the maiden season when he set the stage on fire with a blistering 158-run unbeaten knock in the first ever match of IPL.He was an integral part of the KKR squad for five seasons and also led them in the 2009 edition.

The right-hand batsman had hinted at trying his hand at coaching in his retirement statement.

“The next chapter, in both media and coaching will challenge me further,” he said.