Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu recently commended Gautam Gambhir for his exceptional mentoring abilities during IPL 2024.
Kolkata Knight Riders continued their impressive run in IPL 2024, securing a spot in the playoffs after a convincing victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens last Saturday. Despite finishing seventh last season, KKR has been a force to reckon with this time around, dominating the league stage with 9 wins out of 12 matches.
The addition of Gautam Gambhir to the KKR setup as a mentor has proven to be a game-changer. Gambhir’s decision to promote Sunil Narine as an opener alongside Phil Salt, ranked second in T20I, has paid off brilliantly. Additionally, KKR has been exceptional with the ball, especially in defending targets. Spin maestros Varun Chakaravarthy (with 18 wickets) and Sunil Narine (with 15 wickets) have been pivotal in stifling opposition batsmen during the middle overs.
Recognizing the team’s turnaround, former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu showered praise on Gautam Gambhir, highlighting his ability to excel under pressure.
“I have seen Gautam Gambhir gets inspired when the situation gets tough,” Sidhu said on Star Sports. “He starts advising and that’s how it should be. Anybody can be a pilot when the sea is calm but you only learn when in adverse situations.” – Sidhu told Star Sports.
“KKR is the only team with five bowlers who have taken 10 wickets each and the sixth has taken 9 wickets. Show me a team that has six bowlers who have 60 wickets between them,” Sidhu further said.
He commended Gambhir for the smart decision of reinstating Sunil Narine to the opening position – a move that proved highly successful for them. Narine’s outstanding performance has put him in contention for both the Orange and Purple Caps this season, having scored 461 runs and taken 15 wickets so far.
“Look at KKR’s six bowlers, top batters – everybody is in form. There’s one parallel power centre. Everybody will feel they deserve to do that. They have balance, they have a great mentor, they have a superb captain. They have everybody in form. What else do you need? You can’t have everything, where will you keep it?” Sidhu concluded.
Looking ahead to Kolkata Knight Riders’ next challenge, they’re set to clash with the Gujarat Titans after securing a spot in the playoffs. The showdown is scheduled for the 63rd match of the tournament at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday, May 13th.
