Just three days are left for the IPL 2024. From March 22, the tournament is set to be staged. Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face each other in the inaugural match. However, Gautam Gambhir returned to KKR as a mentor after a long break. He gave KKR their maiden IPL trophy back in 2012 under his captaincy. Recently, in an event, he opened up about that.
Journey With KKR:
Gautam Gambhir, the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders, attributes his rise as a leader to his time with the franchise. Under his captaincy, KKR secured two Indian Premier League (IPL) titles in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir was associated with KKR from 2011 to 2017, during which the team made it to the playoffs five times and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014. He acknowledges KKR as instrumental in shaping his leadership skills and helping him achieve significant milestones in his cricketing career.
He said, “I didn’t make KKR successful, it was KKR that made me a successful leader. I can assure you that whenever I leave this place (KKR), we will be in a much better position.”
Praising Everyone:
The former KKR skipper expressed his thanks to KKR and its owner, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, along with the team, for their unwavering support throughout his journey. He said, “I am a tough guy to handle (smiles) – I need to thank Shah Rukh Khan & Venky Bhai, when I came in 2011, SRK told me only one thing ‘make it or break it’ – he told same thing in 2023 as well, I replied to him ‘When I leave the franchise, it will be in much better place than now’ – SRK teach me honesty, dignity and be kind to everyone.”
While praising his teammates he said, “I have been honoured to lead Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Ryan ten Doeschate at KKR.”
But he especially praised Sunil Narin. While praising the West Indies superstar, he said, “Sunil Narine has sacrificed a lot for KKR. From being reported, to being banned from playing the Champions League final, remodeling his action, coming back and doing the same stuff year after year. He had to go through a lot.”
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