Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir parted ways with Indian Premier League (IPL) side Lucknow Super Giants and made a switch to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2024 season. In his new role, he will serve as the mentor for the team. Gambhir, who had previously captained Kolkata Knight Riders and led them to championship victories on two occasions, spoke about his move during the inauguration of the East Delhi Premier League on November 26.
"Coming back home is a wonderful experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. These challenges need to be embraced and tackled head-on. It is my hope that we can rise to the occasion, understanding that it's not a task for a single mentor alone. The players themselves must contribute to overcoming these challenges.
The sincerity and diligence we invest in our efforts will directly impact the outcomes. The more honesty and hard work we put in, the more likely we are to see positive results," he told Sports Tak in an exclusive interview.
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He also opened up about India's loss in the final to Australia and said that despite being the best team in the tournament, Rohit Sharma's men needed to secure the trophy to be 'truly champion material'.
"Even before the final, I emphasised that a team is truly champion material when they secure victory in the World Cup. The title of champion is earned through performance in the World Cup, and while some may argue that the best team doesn't always win, it's the one that emerges victorious in the final that claims the title. Credit must be given to Australia for their achievement, as the ultimate winner is determined by the outcome of the final.
"Despite this, Team India exhibited an outstanding display of cricket. Rather than singling out individual players, I want to commend the entire team for their remarkable performance."
"Such dominance hasn't been witnessed in quite some time, and all the players deserve congratulations for their collective effort. It's crucial to highlight the exceptional bowling that played a significant role in our performance. The credit given to the bowling unit is perhaps insufficient considering the outstanding contribution they made to our campaign," he added.
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