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Published on: Mar 23, 2022
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Gautam Gambhir has said that the team will need KL Rahul the batter who also leads the side instead of the captain who also bats during the upcoming IPL edition. Gambhir, who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the 2012 and 2014 editions, made the comments during an interview with PTI.
He said, “Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it’s Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference.”
The former cricketer also revealed that he wants Rahul to take a fearless approach and assured him backing if he did the same. He added, “Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won’t know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrate on his batting and leadership.”
Gambhir also answered questions regarding Rahul’s position as likely future captain of India. He said the thinking cannot be on national lines when it comes to playing the IPL. The cricketer-turned-politician explained, “Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain.”
“I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at national team. IPL is a platform to express one’s self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain, ” Gambhir added.
The former cricketer also agreed that they preferred all-rounders at the auction and thus went for the likes of Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda. Gambhir said about the thinking, “When we were preparing the strategy for our team, we wanted more all-rounders and we got our chairman Dr Sanjiv Goenka’s approval. I am honoured that he has given me so much respect and at times I wonder whether I deserve so much praise from him.”
Lucknow Super Giants will begin their IPL 2022 campaign by taking on Gujarat Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28.
–By A Cricket Correspondent
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