Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who is back as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after leading the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the last two seasons, said the team's main aim this season is to embrace bravery.
'I am a firm believer that it is not the most skilled squad that goes on to win major events. The most brave squad, eager to battle to the last drop of blood, will win the IPL. The season's catchphrase is 'We need to be courageous,' according to Gambhir on the KKR Knights Dugout Podcast.
'We have to have the guts to be upbeat at all times. and I'm quite optimistic about the kind of talent in our dressing room if you go that route. I believe we will be in a strong position if we fight, if we are brave and battle for everyone in the locker room and for every supporter who has remained with us,' Gambhir continued.
Additionally, Gambhir reflected on the steadfast help that club owner Shah Rukh Khan provided him during a difficult time in 2014. 'You won't be dropping yourself as long as you're here,' Shah Rukh reassured him, reaffirming his faith in Gambhir's skills. It encouraged him to perform well and take home the crown in 2014.
'In four games, I failed to score even one run. He is, in my opinion—and I've stated this many times—the best owner I've ever worked with. The reason isn't that I was or am a member of KKR. Except for the patch I was going through, I don't think we have had a cricket chat for even seven minutes in the seven years that I have captained KKR.
'We talked at that same moment because I was about to pass out. He only said to me that you wouldn't let go of yourself while you were still here.
Imagine an owner who has achieved so much for himself without even asking you questions about your decision-making process or discussing cricket.
'I'm not claiming that all of my judgments were correct. However, he never questioned my choices; it is a testament to his confidence in me' he concluded.
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