IPL 2018: KKR have a solid reason for leaving him out feels Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir changed the fortunes of the Kolkata Knight Riders side. In the 2011 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, he was bought by KKR for close to Rs.10 crores. Gambhir then went on to win two IPL titles as the captain of the team and brought them all the glory they desired.

Very recently, when the Knight Riders had an opportunity to keep back their captain with a retention, they chose otherwise and he is now in the pool of players that will feature in the auction. Following which there have been reports that Gambhir has expressed his wish to end his IPL career with his home team, Delhi Daredevils. Considering what he brings to the table, the Delhi lad is a marquee player in the auction and is expected to attract big bids given his captaincy potential.

‘Want to be a senior statesman, a mentor to young cricketers’

Gambhir went back in time to 2011 when he was rather worried about his selection in the Indian team for the World Cup that was to be played at home. Only on the day of the auction did he pay any attention to it at all.

“Back in 2011, I remember it was January and the only worry I had was whether I will be picked for the 50-over World Cup later that year or not. It was only on the day of the auction, I had a few butterflies in my tummy. Now, seven years later, I have a broader view to life and cricket,” he was quoted as saying by TOI.

With his experience of having represented India over the years, being a part of the 2007 World T20 winning team, 2011 WC winning team and having led his IPL side to two titles himself he has a lot to offer to any team than the runs he scores.

“I am at a stage of my career where I want to be a senior statesman, a mentor to the younger cricketers. Whether that happens in KKR, Sunrisers, Delhi, Mumbai I am absolutely fine with it,” Gambhir said.

He also said that KKR has been a huge ’emotional investment’ for him. “Yes it will be, it will be tough as KKR gave a platform to express myself as a batsman, a leader, as a human. But at the end of the day I respect the call KKR has taken, they have some solid reasons behind the move which they have explained and I am fine with them. There are no hard feelings at all, maybe there are fresh challenges waiting for me. I will be glad to accept them and turn things around. Let us see what happens,” he said.

Gauti didn’t want to talk about the franchise he would want to represent, rather said that it is out of his hands and that it completely depends on the teams.