'Stick to your strengths' - Vaibhav Arora explains how Gautam Gambhir’s advice helped in Travis Head's IPL 2024 final dismissal [Exclusive]

Vaibhav Arora made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut in 2022, playing for the Punjab Kings. However, he signed for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the following edition and has continued with the franchise since.

Arora has been an integral part of KKR's fast-bowling line-up, forming a steady partnership with Harshit Rana. In 32 IPL games, Arora has picked up 36 wickets at an average of 28.22 and a strike rate of 17.72. He was always a potent new-ball bowler, but in the last two seasons, he has improved his expertise in the death overs.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Arora revealed how warmly the KKR management and support staff welcomed him and his family into the franchise.

"Yes, when KKR picked me for the first time, the messages started coming in immediately after the auction. Our CEO, Venky sir, sent me a message welcoming me to the KKR family and congratulating me. Abhishek Nayar sir also reached out, and our then coach, Brendon McCullum, personally sent me a message as well. Everyone welcomed me to KKR and congratulated not just me, but my entire family," Arora recalled.

The talented fast bowler was asked about the planning behind Travis Head's dismissal in the IPL 2024 final, where KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk to lift the coveted title for the third time. Arora revealed that then-mentor Gautam Gambhir's suggestions helped him get the better of the dangerous Aussie batter.

"The plan was simple. We had already played two or three matches against Hyderabad before that. Our coach, Gautam bhai (Gautam Gambhir), told me to stick to my strengths, swing the ball and go for early wickets. He said that even if I conceded runs, it wouldn’t be an issue as long as I attacked early. So, I kept things simple and focused on swinging the ball. Fortunately, it worked, and I was able to take Travis Head’s wicket in the final," the 28-year-old said.

'A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room' - Vaibhav Arora reveals Gautam Gambhir's mantra during KKR's IPL 2024 triumph

KKR operated like a well-oiled machine in IPL 2024. The excellent camaraderie in the team was palpable, and Arora recollected Gambhir making it clear to everyone the importance of having a happy dressing room.

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"The atmosphere in the dressing room was very happy. Ramandeep, one of our teammates, would often play songs on his speaker, and everyone was really relaxed. We enjoyed ourselves because we were winning matches, and as Gautam bhai always used to say, a happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. That’s why the environment was so chill; we sang songs together, chatted a lot, and enjoyed each other’s company. At the same time, we worked hard on our cricket, which made the dressing room even more special," Arora said.