Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and renowned Indian Premier League (IPL) captain, has recently shared insights into the player who posed the greatest challenge to him during his tenure as a captain in the Indian Premier League.
Gautam Gambhir’s IPL legacy
Gambhir, a stalwart in Indian cricket, is celebrated for his leadership skills and batting prowess, particularly during his captaincy with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Under his guidance, KKR clinched the IPL title twice, in 2012 and 2014, showcasing Gambhir’s ability to lead his team to victory in high-pressure situations.
The revelation
In a recent interview with Star Sports, Gambhir revealed the name of the batter who gave him sleepless nights during his IPL captaincy. Contrary to popular expectations, it wasn’t the likes of Chris Gayle or AB de Villiers who troubled him the most, but rather the formidable Rohit Sharma.
The nightmare opponent
According to Gambhir, Rohit’s batting prowess and ability to control the game made him the most challenging opponent in the IPL. Gambhir emphasized that facing Rohit required meticulous planning, with multiple contingency plans in place to counter his batting onslaught.
“The only player who’s given me sleepless nights. Not Chris Gayle, not AB de Villiers, only Rohit Sharma has given me sleepless nights in the IPL. With Rohit, I knew that I had to have Plan A, Plan B, and probably Plan C as well because if Rohit is in, I don’t think anyone can control him,” said Gambhir on Star Sports.
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Gambhir’s perspective
Reflecting on his experiences as an IPL captain, Gambhir admitted that Rohit was the only batter he truly feared. He disclosed the intensity of his strategic preparations, highlighting the sleepless nights spent devising plans to contain Rohit’s impact on the game.
“The only batsman I have feared in IPL is Rohit Sharma. I have never planned for any other batter except for Rohit Sharma. There have been times when I’ve seen the visuals, where I said fair enough, plan A is fine. But with Rohit Sharma, probably one night before, I used to think if this doesn’t work, I have to get this. If this doesn’t work, I have to get the other plan. If Sunil bowls his four overs, who is going to bowl the next 16? And if I finish off Sunil early and if Rohit is there, he can hit 30 off one over as well. Rohit is the only batter I was scared of as an IPL captain,” added Gambhir.
