Calcutta: Jacques Kallis will don the role of a mentor and batting consultant for Kolkata Knight Riders from the next IPL, having ended his tenure as a player for the franchise.

A cricket-specific website quoted Kallis as saying, “KKR has been my Indian family for the last four years. I have built fantastic relationships with the management and the players and have been very fortunate to assist KKR in winning two IPL titles.

“Over the past year, I have had a chance to think about my future and when KKR approached me with this long-term offer, I jumped at it. KKR is a great brand and am really looking forward to assisting them in my new role as mentor and batting consultant.”

The Knight Riders coaching staff, featuring Trevor Bayliss, Wasim Akram and Vijay Dahiya, now wears a high profile look with the addition of the South African legend.

In 2012, Kallis was instrumental in the Knight Riders winning their maiden IPL title. But in the last edition of the tournament, which KKR won for the second time, Kallis’s form had dipped and he played in only eight of the 16 matches.

He had already retired from Test cricket in December 2013 and then announced in July this year that he was quitting from all forms of international cricket to focus on Twenty20. Kallis will also feature in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers and has committed to play in the Caribbean Premier League next year.