File photo of Gautam Gambhir© BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir had a clear message for his team ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 starting on March 22. In an interaction on Star Sports, Gambhir made it clear that IPL is not about Bollywood or the after-parties, but a brilliant opportunity for young players to prove themselves in the 'toughest competition in the world'. The former Indian batsman, who captained KKR to the IPL title in 2012 and 2014, also said that the league is the closest to international cricket and as a result, the pressure to perform is even greater on both the players and the franchises.
“I made it very clear on Day 1 that IPL is serious cricket for me. It's not about Bollywood, it's not about you, it's not about after-parties and all that. It's about going out and playing competitive cricket and that is why I think this is the toughest competition in the world because it is real cricket,” said Gambhir.
“It is probably the closest thing to international cricket compared to any other competition and if you want to be known as a successful franchise, you should be able to perform on the cricket field,” he added.
KKR failed to reach the play-offs after finishing seventh last season. Gambhir said the players have to work hard for the team's passionate fan base.
“I think there are very passionate fans. We have to be honest with them. We have to try to bring that happiness probably on their smile because I have always believed that the most loyal fans are fans from Kolkata because they have been through a lot in the first three years of the IPL,” said Gambhir.
Topics mentioned in this article