NEW DELHI: Following the IPL 2024 final, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach
Chandrakant Pandit
began delivering his customary post-match speech in the dressing room.
The celebratory atmosphere took a humorous turn when team mentor
Gautam Gambhir
interrupted, suggesting that the players were impatient to start dancing.
"Ladke pagal ho rahe hai dance karne ke liye," Gambhir said with a wry smile.
The video of this witty interruption has gone viral, with fans noting how unusually happy Gambhir appeared.
WATCH:
Gambhir's influence on KKR's success is undeniable. Under his captaincy, KKR secured IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. His return to the franchise as a mentor ahead of the 2024 season played a pivotal role in guiding KKR to their third IPL title, ending a decade-long wait.
Gambhir's strategic acumen has been widely praised.
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach
Tom Moody
commended Gambhir's impact on ESPNcricinfo, saying, "His ability to just get the ship in the right direction is crucial. He is very clear in what he believes the dressing room needed to go, the personnel that needed to be in that playing XI, and the likes of Narine being back to the top of the order again. If Gambhir was still at Lucknow this year, there was no way that Narine would have opened the batting."
Moody emphasized that Gambhir's clarity and stability brought significant positive changes to KKR, addressing the confusion and inconsistency that had plagued the team in previous seasons.
"A lot of things have just worked perfectly for KKR this year, in a positive way. I think Gambhir should be given a huge amount of credit for his impact as a leader. He has created stability and clarity that is the most important thing," Moody added.
With Gambhir's arrival, KKR clinched their third Indian Premier League title in 2024. His strategic influence and leadership were instrumental in transforming the team's fortunes. The season saw KKR overcoming previous challenges and inconsistencies, culminating in a memorable victory.
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