Gautam Gambhir Returns to Kolkata Knight Riders as Mentor Ahead of IPL Season
Former Captain Gambhir Leads Practice Session as Pandey Joins Squad
Gautam Gambhir conducted himself normally at Eden Gardens on Friday. It never once appeared as though he had been six years away from the franchise.
On the first day of their practise session, the two-time IPL champion skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders, accompanied by bowling coach Bharat Arun and head coach Chandrakant Pandit, appeared composed.
After a team meeting where the support staff discussed goals and plans, the players used intense nets for two hours until the rain interrupted them.
On Saturday, Captain Shreyas Iyer, who has been dealing with back discomfort but is in better form to assume the role, will join the team.
Also, on Saturday, international players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will arrive, adding strength to the group. On Sunday, Mitchell Starc is anticipated. The only foreign player at the Eden on Friday was Englishman Phil Salt, who took Jason Roy's spot.
Manish Pandey, Gambhir's old colleague, has also joined the team this season. Pandey, who scored 94 runs in the championship match to win the team the previous year, is also eager to return the Knights to their former glories.
It's great to be returning to KKR. It has a homey feel to it. I've been here for four years because KKR has been really supportive of my career," stated Pandey.
Since today was the first practice day, we haven't talked much. We should also have a clear understanding of the roles and the kind of responsibilities they want me to play before the first game.
I'm overjoyed to see Gambhir there. He has performed admirably here as well and will be fielding many crucial calls for the club. So glad to see him again.
"It felt like home again—the sort of mood the fellas are in right now, the way Gambhir talks, and the way we had a little team meeting before practice. It was as though a lot of memories were returning. If we can bring the trophy back here once more, it will be beautiful.
Pandey is eager to collaborate with Pandit in addition to Gambhir.
"Having these two superstars is fantastic since many domestic teams have performed incredibly well under Chandu Sir. I'm so glad to be with him again... Gambhir influences a lot of things on the field because of his earnestness and demeanor.
Every time, you're glad to hear such encouraging remarks... Many new participants have entered the game. Thus, I'll have to begin the process over.”
Pandey is hoping that everything clicks this season since they know what it takes to be a title squad. "KKR's start to the 2014 season wasn't very strong. After a couple games of defeat, we recovered as a unit. We got back together. That, I believe, was the fire that was required at the time.
"And we went on to win the championship after winning seven straight games." Therefore, I believe that sometimes it's luck, but more often than not, I believe that it's the attitude that each player has on the field on any given day. That's going to be crucial," he stated.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
