Kallis to be KKR's mentor, batting consultant in next year's IPL season

Former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis would be involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next year, although he won't be playing in it, as a mentor and batting consultant for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

KKR had first purchased Kallis in 2011 for 1.1 million dollars after he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2010.

However this year Kallis, who recently retired from all forms of international cricket, couldn't recreate his earlier form with the franchise, scoring only 151 runs in eight matches, Sport24 reported.

KKR subsequently announced that they would be using Kallis in a coaching capacity.

Kallis said through a media release issued by IPL that KKR has been his Indian family for the last four years, adding that he has built fantastic relationships with the management and the players and has been very fortunate to assist the team in winning two IPL Championships.

The all-rounder stated that over the past year he has had a chance to think about his future and when KKR approached him with this long-term offer, he jumped at it.

Kallis added that KKR is a great brand and he is really looking forward to assisting them in his new role as mentor and batting consultant.

Kallis would be part of the KKR coaching staff comprising Trevor Bayliss, Wasim Akram and Vijay Dahiya, the report added.