At times, Gautam Gambhir has been like a leader who shows light to his men, guiding them through a dark tunnel, defined, focused, never wavering. At times, when the going has got difficult, he has been like the torchbearer hell bent on carrying the weight on his Team on his able shoulders, batting brilliantly, sometimes confining himself to just tapping it for singles, playing second fiddle to his deputy Uthappa, in the form of his life; or sometimes like the quintessential batsman who leads the attack to the opposition.
How wonderful has the IPL been, in showing us the sides and traits of personalities we we would otherwise never get to see and enjoy! Gautam Gambhir, as a Captain, would be something we would not even think of, and for those few who would think of it, it would be like that unrealistic dream that never holds any relevance in reality. Thanks to the IPL, we have gotten to witness the classy Delhi southpaw, an architect of many of India’s victories, the most famous one being the World Cup 2011 Final where he etched out an important partnership with the former India Captain MS Dhoni, scoring an important 97 that orchestrated Sri Lanka’s downfall in a game most Indians called the most important one of their lives.
Kolkata Knight Riders, now sitting pretty on the top of the table having almost qualified to the play-offs, would surely be unable to thank the skipper enough. He has led with an example, having scored 376 runs off 9 games, at an unreal average of 62.66 and a strike rate of 136.72. He has been not out 3 times, all of them while chasing, which shows how belligerently has he led his Team. There never was any doubt about his class. But his reassuring poise and balance while leading the side this season has come as a surprise to even his most ardent fans.
Against the mighty RCB, when KKR slumped from 65/1 to 131 all down, Gautam Gambhir, during a mid-inning break, sternly demanded more intensity from his players, and warned them no one could take their place in the side for granted. Yet again, you could see the intensity in the field, all created by the skipper. He never let RCB lift the lid and RCB eventually slumped to 49, the lowest ever total in the history of the IPL.
It’s been a tremendous revelation to see Gautam Gambhir lead the way he’s doing; leading with example and inspiring his Teams with fantastic performances, making an impact and leaving an indelible mark! Great going, Gauti!
