In the high-pressure world of the Indian Premier League, where opportunities are limited and competition is fierce, a strong mentor can make all the difference in a player’s career. For Manan Vohra, that mentor was none other than the legendary Gautam Gambhir, who imparted invaluable wisdom during his time as mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants.
Struggling with Lack of Opportunities
Vohra, who has played over 50 matches in the IPL, found himself in a difficult situation while representing the Rajasthan Royals. Despite his talent, he struggled to break into the playing XI consistently, while younger players like Riyan Parag received more backing from the team management. This disparity in opportunities began to weigh heavily on Vohra’s mind, and he found himself victimizing his circumstances.
“It’s a very tough situation to not get a game. You want to play. That’s all a player wants to do to get recognition. In Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag was like 17 when he came there, and I was there; he used to gel up with me a lot because, as a big brother to him, I used to be around him and guide him. He started getting the opportunities. He has always had the ability of brutal striking. He got the opportunities but there was a stage when he was not doing well but got the backing. I didn’t feel bad that he was getting the backing, and I didn’t, but I wanted that I should also get it,” Vohra recalled in a podcast on Taruwar Kohli’s YouTube channel.
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Gambhir’s Honest Advice
Vohra’s fortunes changed when he joined the Lucknow Super Giants, where he was reunited with Gambhir, who had been keen to sign him for Kolkata Knight Riders during his captaincy days. However, Vohra’s struggles continued, as he was dropped after a single match despite a decent performance.
Vohra approached Gambhir for a chat, hoping for some reassurance. But the mentor’s response was anything but comforting. “He answered me very plainly-sweetly-simply and said, ‘Life is different for everyone; some players get eight matches, some get just one. It’s not everyone gets the same amount of matches, but if you have got one match, then you have to do it in that one match only, end of story,'” Gambhir told Vohra bluntly.
A Transformative Realization
At first, Vohra was stunned by Gambhir’s directness, but he soon realized the depth of the mentor’s words. “I could have got offended, but I realised the depth of that conversation when he said if you are so good, then even if you have got one match, then you have to prove yourself and move ahead,” he added.
Gambhir’s advice helped Vohra break out of the victim mentality that had been holding him back. The cricketer acknowledged that he often tried to blame circumstances for his lack of success, but Gambhir’s words made him see things differently.
“That day I thought he is right, I can’t blame anyone or the circumstances that it is happening to me, we often try to victimise ourselves that it’s not happening like this or that. If you have got one match, you should be good enough, and you have to be so well prepared to make an impact so they will persist with you,” Vohra concluded.
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