After the final of IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders coach Chandrakant Pandit began with his usual post-match speech to his players in the change room.
However, during the post-match ceremony, a celebratory mood quickly degenerated into humor when team mentor Gautam Gambhir raised his hand and claimed impatiently that: “The boys are going crazy and want to dance”.
Gambhir said this smiling wryly.
This brilliant interruption has since gone viral over the internet as fans marvel at how happy he looked.
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KKR’s success under Gambhir has been evident. KKR won IPL titles twice in 2012 and again in 2014 while he was skippering them. After a decade-long wait, Gambhir making a comeback to the franchise as a mentor before the 2024 season was key in their winning of their third IPL title.
Gambhir’s strategic mind is highly commendable by many people.
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody was impressed by Gambhir’s influence on ESPNcricinfo saying, “His ability just to give it direction is important; for me it is clear about what he thinks what needs to happen in that dressing room and who should be playing XI of playoffs then Narine goes back up top again. I can tell you if Gambhir had been at Lucknow this year we would not have seen Narine opening the batting.”
According to Moody, such clarity and stability from Gambhir transformed KKR significantly by bringing order out of chaos that had characterized various seasons.
“Many things have fallen into place for KKR this season so far in a positive manner. I think credit must go majorly to Gambir for being such an impactful leader. He has given us some form that is stable,” added Moody.
KKR secured their third Indian Premier League title by signing or trading with other teams during the 2024 season upon the arrival of Gambhir. His strategic influence and leadership have turned the fortune of his team around. The campaign was one of KKR overcoming their past problems and inconsistencies before winning in a grand style.
