Gautam Gambhir

IPL 2024: Data useful but captain is the on-field boss, says KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit

Danijones5 months ago08 mins

One of the enduring debates in T20 cricket is on data – its understanding and how much to use. Between Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Chandrakant Pandit, mentor Gautam Gambhir and analyst Nathan Leamon, each belonged to a different school of thought. So, how did KKR marry their views during their victorious campaign? Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer, coach Chandrakant Pandit and mentor Gautam Gambhir during a practice session(PTI) Gambhir recently said on R Ashwin’s talk show that he has “never believed in data”. Leamon has worked with the England cricket team for many years, and his coded signals from the dressing room balcony to provide tips to captains on using matchups had made headlines. KKR used this method actively when Brendon McCullum was the head coach, but it hasn’t been seen for the past two years. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! ALSO READ: IPL 2024 moved many needles, changed cricket’s grammar Without going into details on the strategy shift, Pandit, who took over the KKR post ahead of the 2023 season, said he believed data had its value, but the captain should be the final authority during play. “Data is useful. You can look at bowling charts, study patterns of bowling. It gives you an idea if you need to correct strategy on which deliveries and lengths to bowl during which phase of the game and in which conditions,” Pandit said. “But on field, the captain has the right to back his instincts.” He was asked about pacer Vaibhav Arora being used for his third successive powerplay over in the final where he was taken for 17 runs by Aiden Markram. It did not open up the match for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but it could have. SRH were shot out for 113 and KKR won by eight wickets. “It’s the spontaneous decision of the captain. And all of us felt it was the right decision because the ball was moving. Vaibhav being a little inexperienced, he felt the pressure after one bad ball, but that can happen. It’s easy to say from the outside that you go with another plan. But even that can cost you runs.” Pandit said the take on data differed from player to player; how to use it was part of the challenges of coaching. “Data may be helpful for five guys in the team, but may not be for ten other guys. We don’t spend hours on it. It’s not rocket science. It’s still how you bowl on the 22 yards…the bowlers have known about the 6-metre and 10-metre lengths all the time. It’s about giving them more ideas to succeed,” he added. Calling Shreyas Iyer a quality captain, Pandit said he was receptive to ideas but knew how to make his own calls. “Not just because he won the trophy, but I liked him as a captain because he was never rattled in any situation. He looked confident about his decision making and backed his instincts.” PERSONAL LEARNINGS From coaching six Ranji Trophy winning teams across three states (Mumbai, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh) to winning the IPL crown on second attempt, the former India player calls IPL 2024 a tournament of many personal learnings. His old-school coaching style has been questioned sometimes. Pandit said one never stops learning. “What I have understood from IPL is that every player at this level prepares differently,” he said. “Some players do not like to bat or bowl before a match. Initially, Mitchell Starc told me that he does not like to bowl a day before the match in the nets. Later, he felt the need to bowl and he wanted to attend the nets. Sunil Narine may come for an hour in the nets and bowl to one stump. They are used to their own preparations. They know their bodies better than anyone else. You go with that. “In domestic cricket, it’s tough sometimes because you may have only two batters with international experience, while in IPL you have 7-8. But I will be a slightly changed man. I have learned how to manage players slightly differently and give them more freedom when one can. I have never said I know everything. In domestic cricket as well, I have taken suggestions from my video analyst and used it against Mumbai.” Pandit is hopeful his success can open avenues for other Indian coaches to take senior positions in IPL teams. “I am honoured that KKR had faith in me. Gautam brought his international and KKR experience. His directions worked not just for the players but the coaching group as well. Between all the coaches, respect and communication was the way to go.”

‘To my boys, my team, my champs…’: Shah Rukh Khan’s million-dollar praise for KKR | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday congratulated the “stars” of his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for their outstanding performance in the IPL 2024 final, where they clinched the championship trophy for the third time.KKR triumphed in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a dominating eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a completely one-sided final on Sunday.As the principal owner of the team, Shah Rukh also expressed his gratitude to the fans who patiently waited 10 long years for this win. “Love you all and don’t let the dancing stop! Also, so happy and thankful for each and every KKR fan and I hope all around the world youngsters learn that tough times don’t last…” he wrote in a lengthy post on his social media handles. The 58-year-old actor expressed his gratitude to the KKR coaching staff and management in his post. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of Gautam Gambhir, the team’s mentor, Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach, and Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach.“To my boys… my team… my champs… ‘these blessed candles of the night’… My Stars…of KKR. I cannot do a lot of things and you cannot do them all either…but together we manage most of them. That’s what @KKRiders stood for.“Simply being together. Beyond the ability and guidance of @GautamGambhir….the earnestness of Chandu, the love of @abhisheknayar1 & leadership of @ShreyasIyer15… the dedication of @rtendo27, Bharat Arun, @1crowey & @Numb3z.”KKR is a team that’s not built on hierarchy but “pure respect for collaboration”, he said.“GG (Gambhir) said if u can’t support a single vision as a team… u are leading to a division in the team. Each player understood that. Young and old. The Trophy is not a testament of having the best players in the team… but a proof of each player being the best for the team. Boys you are all made of Star stuff!! Finally Tough and Happy teams do! Korbo…Lorbo…Jeetbo….Always. See u all at the stadia in 2025,” Shah Rukh wrote.Shah Rukh, who was hospitalized last week in Ahmedabad due to a heat stroke following his attendance at an IPL match of his team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, was overjoyed when KKR emerged victorious in IPL 2024.During the final match at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium, the actor wore a mask for most of the game but removed it when the team was on the brink of securing the coveted title, displaying his excitement.Accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan and children Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam, Shah Rukh was present at the final match.KKR, co-owned by Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, clinched its first IPL title in 2012, followed by another win in 2014.(With PTI inputs)

‘Lagta hai yahi head coach, mentor sab hain’: How Gautam Gambhir scripted KKR’s win from dugout – Watch | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir‘s emotions were on full display as he celebrated Nicholas Pooran‘s dismissal with great enthusiasm in the Indian Premier League match between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. He was later observed providing strategic advice to KKR captain Iyer by gesturing and offering words of wisdom to the player carrying drinks during the wicket break. A video of this incident has gone viral on social media, leading fans to speculate about Gambhir’s role in the franchise. Watch: After watching the video, one fan even commented, “Kabhi kabhi lagta hai Yahi head coach mentor saab hain (sometimes it feels like he is everything – the head coach and the mentor).”Under Gambhir’s guidance, KKR have been excellent in IPL 2024, with openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt providing strong starts at the top.Narine’s brilliant half-century and a combined effort by the bowlers led to KKR’s convincing 98-run victory over LSG in the IPL on Sunday.LSG’s decision to field first backfired as KKR became the first team to surpass the 200-run mark at the Ekana stadium.Narine (81 off 38 balls) showcased his mettle with the bat once again, smashing seven sixes and six fours to propel the visitors to a formidable total of 235/6.Faced with a daunting target, LSG batters had to attack from the outset but struggled to find the boundary consistently. They were eventually bowled out for 137 in 16.1 overs.The victory led the Kolkata-based side to the top of the table with 16 points, equal to Rajasthan Royals but having played one extra game.

“Praise Gautam Gambhir For KKR Win, Blame Shreyas Iyer”: West Indies Legend Slams Double Standards

Danijones6 months ago6 months ago04 mins

Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop slammed trolls for targetting Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Shreyas Iyer. Despite KKR sitting top of the table, Iyer has been on the receiving end of some harsh criticism on social media from fans, who have instead credited mentor and former captain Gautam Gambhir for the franchise’s stunning form this season. Taking to X, Bishop shut down multiple trolls and questioned fans for showing double standards by attributing KKR’s wins to Gambhir and defeats to Iyer. While Gambhir has certainly brought the winning mentality back at KKR, Bishop highlighted Iyer’s respectable record as captain during the previous seasons. “Shreyas became DC captain in 2018 when GG stepped down after DC lost 5 of first 6 gms. DC then finished the season winning 4 of next 8 games. 2019 DC 3rd, 2020 DC 2nd. 2021 injury & only 8gms so Pant captained. To KKR 2022, new franchise, 7th. Missed 2023. 2024,” Bishop responded to fan on his post. Questioned the double standards, Bishop argued saying: “So GG gets the praise when they win. Shreyas gets the blame if they lose? Or will you say its GG’s fault to if they lose?” So GG gets the praise when they win. Shreyas gets the blame if they lose? Or will you say its GG’s fault to if they lose? — Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 6, 2024 Since returning to the franchise as a mentor, Gambhir has been pretty active in the dugout, passing on tactical aide to Iyer during timeouts and breaks. Speaking at the press conference on Sunday, KKR pacer Harshit Rana also credit Gambhir for his tactical brilliance. On Sunday, red-hot Sunil Narine smashed 81 off 39 balls to help KKR thrash Lucknow Super Giants by 98 runs and take top spot in IPL table. Narine’s blitz, laced with six fours and seven sixes, guided Kolkata to 235-6 after they were invited to bat first in Lucknow’s final home game. Two-time champions Kolkata bowled out Lucknow for 137 in 16.1 overs for their eighth win in 11 matches and almost guaranteed a play-off berth. Second-placed Rajasthan Royals have played one match fewer. The top four teams will make the play-offs with the final on May 26 in Chennai. Topics mentioned in this article

Gautam Gambhir’s Act From KKR Bench Triggers Plethora Of Questions. Watch

Danijones6 months ago6 months ago04 mins

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) put one foot into the IPL 2024 playoffs after beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to go top of the points table on Sunday. KKR now have 16 points from 11 games and only need a win from their remaining league matches to qualify for the playoffs. The two-time champions, who finished in the bottom half of the points table last season, have looked like a different team this season under captain Shreyas Iyer. However, a lot of that credit should go to former captain and mentor Gautam Gambhir, who returned to the franchise after spending two seasons in the dugout at LSG. Gambhir has provided tactical assistance to both head coach Chandrakant Pandit and under-pressure captain Iyer, who recently lost his BCCI central contract. His act made many wonder if it’s Gambhir who is running the show behind the scenes at KKR, prompting a plethora of questions among fans. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, has also been the driving force behind star all-rounder Sunil Narine’s revival as a top-order batter. On Sunday, as LSG took on KKR, Gambhir was in the thick of things as he burst out of joy, following Nicholas Pooran’s dismissal. Soon after, he was seen sending tactical aid to KKR captain Iyer. A video of the same incident has gone viral on social media, and Gambhir’s gesture had fans reading between the lines. Gambhir Reaction On Pooran Wicket And Straight Away Sending Tips To Captain pic.twitter.com/I53aEOH0ZR — Aayush Sharma (@Ayushaaa1818) May 5, 2024 With Gambhir in the dugout, KKR have managed to thrive in IPL 2024, with openers Narine and Phil Salt laying strong foundations in their playoffs bid. Narine and Salt have done most of the damage in the Powerplays this season, scoring 461 and 429 runs, respectively, in 11 matches. Only Virat Kohli (542) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (541) have scored more runs than Narine this season, with the long-serving KKR star also scalping 14 wickets in addition to his prowess with the bat. While taking wickets has never been a problem for him, it’s the first time since 2018 that Narine has scored 350 or more runs in an IPL season. He had scored 357 runs during IPL 2018, but he failed to even cross the 150-run mark in each of the next five seasons. Meanwhile, Salt, who went unsold during the auctions, was only roped in by KKR as a replacement for Jason Roy.

Gautam Gambhir regrets infamous ‘aggressive’ acts in his IPL career: ‘I’ve done some things I shouldn’t have done’

Danijones6 months ago6 months ago05 mins

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir made some honest admissions while recalling his time as captain in the Indian Premier League. Gambhir led Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) and Kolkata Knight Riders in the cash-rich league and won the two titles leading the Purple and Golden outfit. The former Indian star was known for his aggressive leadership and leading his team from the front. Gautam Gambhir led KKR to two IPL titles as captain.(PTI) Gambhir never shied away from arguing with opposition players and was involved in a few heated altercations, including one with Virat Kohli, which grabbed the limelight. The 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI WC finals hero reminisced his time as captain and admitted that he did some things during his career which some things he shouldn’t have done. “Sometimes you need to have an aggressive approach as a leader if you want your team to be aggressive. Sometimes you need to do things you didn’t want to. When I look back at my career, I have done some things I shouldn’t have done. But I believed if I didn’t get aggressive and didn’t lead by example, my team won’t play aggressively,” Gambhir told Sportskeeda. The two-time IPL-winning skipper further asserted that a player should be judged only for his on-the-field activities or behaviour, but everyone should keep in mind the player’s off-the-field things too. “I feel every player and every leader has the right to express themselves on the field. A player should not be judged just by how he is on the field, but how he is off it should also be looked at,” he added. Gambhir player for KKR in IPL from 2011 to 2017, which is considered the golden period of the franchise. During this period, the team won the IPL twice, qualified for the playoffs five times, and reached the finals of the Champions League T20 in 2014. He rejoined the franchise ahead of the 2024 edition as the team mentor, and his inclusion in the team management changed their fortunes once again, as KKR are currently sitting at the top of the points table with one foot in the playoffs. In a conversation on Star Sports, KKR co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan expressed his sheer joy at having Gambhir back in the KKR family, and how pivotal he is to the team’s success. “He’s trying to free him up a bit. He’s (Gambhir) been with us for 8 years, and God willing, for the next 20 years. The great thing about Gautam Gambhir being back with us is that I never felt like he left us. You know, there are some friendships that remain intact no matter what. Whether he’s in our team or mentoring someone else, there’s never any animosity or competition with him,” Shah Rukh said.

On top of IPL standings: Kolkata Knight Riders credit Gautam Gambhir’s winning formula | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Young pacer Harshit Rana attributed Kolkata Knight Riders’ surge to the top of the IPL points table to the winning blueprint laid down by former captain Gautam Gambhir, now serving as the team’s mentor. Gambhir’s strategic insights, derived from his successful tenure as KKR skipper, have revitalized the franchise’s performance, leading them to reclaim their dominant form in the tournament.Under Gambhir’s leadership, KKR clinched the IPL title twice and secured playoff berths on five occasions between 2011 and 2017.Rana acknowledged Gambhir’s profound understanding of the game, stating, “He has a lot of knowledge on how to turn games in our favor, and it helps us a lot in the middle.”Rana emphasized the team’s adherence to Gambhir’s preferred style of cricket, which focuses on strategic discipline and adaptability. “Not only this match, this entire season we have been focusing a lot on the style of cricket that Gautam Gambhir wants us to play,” Rana remarked during a press conference following KKR’s commanding victory over Lucknow Super Giants.In the latest triumph, KKR showcased their astute reading of the conditions, with Rana playing a pivotal role in restricting the opposition with figures of 3/24. Despite concerns over Mitchell Starc’s economy rate, Rana expressed unwavering faith in the Australian speedster, highlighting his influential presence within the team. Reflecting on his aspirations, Rana expressed his ambition to represent India while maintaining a steadfast focus on delivering consistent performances for his franchise. “My aim is to play for India, but whatever franchise I play for, I try to give my best on the day of the match,” he affirmed.Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants’ Naveen Ul Haq conceded defeat against the brilliance of Sunil Narine‘s explosive innings, which propelled KKR to a daunting total. Naveen acknowledged Narine’s exceptional batting display, lamenting the failure of their bowling plans to contain the West Indian all-rounder.Despite the setback, Naveen remained pragmatic, acknowledging the need to regroup and refocus for their upcoming fixtures. “Every team has a bad day, and we cannot keep focusing on that, we have to move on,” he concluded, echoing the sentiment of resilience required in the demanding landscape of the IPL.(With inputs from PTI)

KL Rahul says ‘poor performance overall’ after succumbing to heavy defeat against KKR | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants bowlers first leaked 235 in a historic first at the Ekana Stadium and batters then had a disappointing run, collapsing under the scoreboard pressure as KL Rahul and Co. succumbed to a heavy 98-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.Smashing the LSG bowlers left, right and centre, Sunil Narine hit a sparkling 81 which was followed by a collective effort by the bowlers as KKR restricted the hosts to 137 all out and moved to the top of the table.Skipper Rahul after the embarrassing defeat blamed an overall poor performance for the horror show in their final home game of the season.“Lot of runs. Poor performance overall. It was a big total. Like I said, It’s a poor performance with both bat and ball. Narine in powerplay puts a lot of pressure. Our bowlers couldn’t handle the pressure,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation.While the Ekana surface produced its first ever 200-plus T20 score, Rahul did not blame the pitch and conditions and said it stayed true throughout the game.“Wicket is very good. There is a bit of bounce if you bowl hard length. It wasn’t a bad pitch. 235 was 20-30 runs were above par. Our batting was poor,” Rahul added.With their fifth defeat of the season in 11 games, Lucknow were pushed to the fifth spot on the points table but Rahul said that team will look to bounce back quickly and will look to make it three out of three going ahead and finish inside top four.“Once we go back to dressing room, we move on from this game and see where we went wrong. Last home game, we are on the road for the next few games, we need to be little bit more fearless,” Rahul said.The win, on the other hand, brought KKR closer to the playoffs.Shreyas Iyer and Co. now have 8 wins in 11 matches.

LSG vs KKR, IPL 2024 Highlights: Sunil Narine shines as Kolkata Knight Riders crush Lucknow Super Giants by 98 runs, go to top of table | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: Sunil Narine‘s dazzling half-century, combined with a strong performance from the bowlers, led Kolkata Knight Riders to a commanding 98-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL on Sunday.LSG’s decision to bowl first backfired, as KKR became the first team to score over 200 runs at the Ekana Stadium.Narine showcased his batting prowess once again, smashing 81 off 38 balls, including seven sixes and six fours, to propel KKR to an imposing total of 235/6.LSG faced a daunting chase and needed to start aggressively, but they struggled to find the big shots and were eventually bowled out for 137 in 16.1 overs. Within the first 10 overs, LSG had lost half the side including skipper KL Rahul (25), Arshin Kulkarni (9), Deepak Hooda (5) and big hitters Marcus Stoinis (36) and Nicholas Pooran (10).Ashton Turner hit some lusty blows and looked in mood to showcase his batting prowess but the Australian was supremely unlucky as an inside edge deflected off his boot with Varun Chakravarthy completing a caught and bowled. With the win KKR moved to the top of the table. They have 16 points, the same as Rajasthan Royals but have played one game more.LSG, on the other hand, dropped out of the top four to the fifth spot with 12 points from 11 games. Their Net Run Rate also took a massive hit going down from 0.094 to -0.371. Earlier, the in-form Narine, who was dropped twice in the space of two balls, smoked five boundaries in five balls, setting the tone for the KKR innings.First, he hammered back-to-back fours off Naveen-ul-Haq in the last two balls of the third over. He then attacked the offside, hitting three boundaries on the trot off Mohsin Khan in the fourth over. Narine and Phil Salt (32) gave the two-time champions the explosive start they have come to expect from the duo. Together they put up a quick 61-run stand before Naveen-ul Haq took the pace off the ball to send the Englishman packing.Medium pacer Yash Thakur then stemmed the flow of runs in the final over of the powerplay, giving away only two runs as KKR reached 70/1.However, the unperturbed Narine continued his onslaught and brought up his fifty off 27 deliveries with a cheeky late dab that sent the ball rolling past short third.He took a particular liking to Marcus Stoinis, sending the ball over the fence three times in the 11th over.But Ravi Bishnoi, on whose bowling Narine was dropped twice before, was third time lucky as he put an end to the all-rounder’s spectacular innings.The LSG bowlers were able to rein in the KKR batters as they kept taking wickets.Naveen-ul Haq got rid of Andre Russell (12) before Yudhvir Singh, who came as a concussion sub for Mohsin Khan, picked up young Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s (32) wicket in the next over.The Afghan pacer swung back into action to account for the big-hitting Rinku Singh (16) while Thakur removed Shreyas Iyer (23).But Ramandeep Singh’s unbeaten 25 off 6 balls took KKR past the 230-run mark.(With inputs from PTI)

Gautam Gambhir’s tweet after KKR beat MI at Wankhede is all about pain, fighting spirit and redemption

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

Mitchell Starc let out a roar after knocking down Gerarld Coetzee’s middle stump. It was his third wicket of the over and the fourth of the night overall for the Australian quick but more importantly, it was the last of the Mumbai Indians’ team. Kolkata Knight Riders had finally managed to beat MI at the Wankhede Stadium after 12 long years. No team have a better head-to-head record in the IPL than MI over KKR. You could see what it meant to KKR. Mentor Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar were embracing and shouting in each other’s ears. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan embraces the team mentor Gautam Gambhir(ANI) It was just different emotions. KKR have been one of the teams to beat in this IPL and MI have been just the opposite. But KKR vs MI is one encounter that doesn’t follow form and reputation. It’s just one-way traffic in favour of the five-time champions. That’s why this victory tasted way sweeter for the men in purple. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Starc is in his first season with KKR. Even their captain Shreyas Iyer, who was showing more emotions on the field on Friday than he usually does, has been around the team for three years. They must have heard about MI’s domination of KKR but didn’t quite experience it. For Gambhir, though, it’s different. He was the last KKR captain to beat MI at Wankhede in 2012. The only other KKR member who was part of the team in both of those wins, 12 years apart, is Sunil Narine. The West Indies all-rounder was in fact Player of the Match for his 4/15 in the 2012 match at Wanhede against MI. He once again made a useful contribution with the ball, picking up 2/22 in his four overs. He is not known to be too emotive, so judging the magnitude of KKR’s victory on Friday by looking at Narine’s expressions might not be the best of ideas, but looking at Gambhir sure is. After his emotional embrace with Nayar in the dugout, the KKR mentor was all smiles during the post-match handshakes. The former India opener did not take much longer to let his emotions flow on social media. “Turning the tide after 12 yrs at Wankhede! Beautifully done boys!” he wrote on X. If KKR batters were guilty of not working out their game plan on the go in the first half to be bowled out for just 169 with Venkatesh Iyer contributing 70, Mumbai Indians’ underperforming batters stood no chance on a tricky wicket which demanded both application and patience. They were all-out for 145 in 18.5 overs and are practically out of the competition which has been a nightmare for Hardik Pandya. Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant fifty, Mumbai Indians were shot out for 145 in 18.5 overs chasing 170, found wanting with the bat once again as Mitchell Starc (3.5-0-33-4) cleaned up the tail for KKR’s seventh win in 10 matches.