The Kolkata Knight Riders, who were going through a rough patch, can't deny that Gambhir's comeback has helped them; on Saturday, they defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) at Kolkata's Eden Gardens to become the first team to qualify for the TATA IPL 2024 playoffs.
Gautam Gambhir and KKR are a match made in cricket heaven. It was very much the case during Gambhir's playing career after joining the Delhi Capitals (then Daredevils). In 2011, KKR opted to give Gambhir a chance after struggling to create an impression under Sourav Ganguly's leadership in the team's early years. After the left-handed opening batsman helped the team win two titles in three years, the Kolkata supporters, who had initially opposed the move, eventually came to accept Gambhir as one of their own. More than a decade since their last victory in Bengaluru, Gambhir is working his magic with the 'Purple Brigade' once more, this time as a mentor.
Gambhir Effect on KKR
Since Gambhir's two titles, there have been no new additions to the KKR cabinet. The closest they had come was a runner-up position in the UAE final in 2021, when Eoin Morgan captained the team, falling to Chennai Super Kings. Last year, the team had one of its most disappointing performances in a decade, finishing eighth in the 10-team table under Nitish Rana's leadership, with usual skipper Shreyas Iyer unavailable due to injury. Iyer deserves credit for his leadership abilities since he previously led the Delhi Capitals to the final in 2020, their sole appearance in the IPL summit showdown to date.
"I've seen Gautam Gambhir get inspired when things get tough. He begins giving advice, which is appropriate. "Anyone can be a pilot when the sea is calm, but you only learn in difficult situations," former India batsman Navjot Sidhu said after KKR accomplished a season double over five-time winners MI on Saturday.
The Knight Riders are now atop the table and are expected to finish in the top two at the end of the league stage. Nitish, who didn't have the greatest of luck as captain last year, also thanked coach Pandit and mentor Gambhir for the team's comeback this season.
"You have to play good cricket to win games for your side, and not just against the Mumbai Indians. We are playing as a team this year, which sets us apart from previous years. We believe and trust one another. Chandu sir (Chandrakant Pandit) and Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) deserve the credit for this. They've supported the guys, and it's paying off," Rana remarked following KKR's Saturday triumph.
Aapni amader hriday e thaaken! 💜 pic.twitter.com/v8u801GOwN— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 11, 2024
Narine and Russell shine under Gambhir
Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, Kolkata's veteran West Indian all-rounders, have contributed significantly to the team's successful run this season. Under Gambhir's direction, the two made their Knight Riders debut in 2012 and would go on to form the backbone of the squad for the ensuing ten years.
Given their ages, questions were raised about their place in the KKR squad, particularly Narine, who had not been consistent with the ball and had made few contributions with the bat. With Gambhir back in the fold, Narine has erupted with both bat and the ball, placing him in the top ten in both categories.
The southpaws formed a destructive opening partnership with Englishman Phil Salt, who has 435 runs this season, with the pair responsible for getting KKR off to a flying start and laying the groundwork for their 200-plus totals, which have been scored regularly.
Narine's economical bowling has caused many hitters to opt out of his overs and attack other members of the KKR attack instead. Additionally, he has amassed 461 runs this season at the plate with a strike rate of 182.93 and an average of 38.42. Russell, too, has had success with the ball, taking 15 wickets and ranking eighth on the Purple Cap list, while scoring 222 runs as a middle-order hitter at a blistering strike rate of 185.
KKR's focused bowling has paid off
With four of their bowlers ranking in the current top 10, the KKR bowling unit has been lethal in the 17th IPL season. Russell and Narine are both members of this unit. While Harshit Rana has been an incredible death overs bowler, leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was named Player of the Match in the triumph over MI in Kolkata, has matched Narine well in the middle overs. Even their 24.75-crore acquisition Mitchell Starc has rebounded with a string of strong performances after proving pricey early in the season.
"KKR is the only side with five bowlers who have taken ten wickets each, while the sixth has taken nine wickets. Show me a squad with six bowlers who have 60 wickets combined," Sidhu said on Star Sports.
With Gambhir back in the KKR fold, things appear to be looking better than ever, regardless of whether they end up winning their third title this season. Even if they do not win the crown this season, more will undoubtedly follow in the coming years.
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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