Former opening batsman and commentator Gautam Gambhir who is always in the news for his some or other controversial statement. He has recently told that cricket experts need to stop associating the words like passion, energy, and dedication only with the big names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian Cricket Team. He also mentions that all the players who represent the nation plays with the same passion & dedication.
During the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was played at home in October and November, both Virat Kohli and Rohit have played the vital role and received a great deal of praise regarding that. With 765 and 597 runs, respectively, the two were the competition’s top two scorers.
During a conversation with Sportskeeda, Gambhir acknowledged Virat Kohli for consistently exhibiting exceptional levels of fitness across his career. But, He was disappointed that experts only associated passion and determination only with the star players like Rohit and Virat.
Gautam Gambhir believes all players in the dressing room have the same passion and dedication
Gautam Gambhir was furious on the talk about Virat & Rohit for T20 WC 2024 and said that all the players who are representing India have the dedication. Gautam Gambhir praised Virat Kohli for his fitness and said that the youngsters should learn from Kohli.
“People talk a lot about passion, energy and dedication. All players in the dressing room have the same passion and dedication. No one has less passion or dedication. Wrong to say that only about Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. All players who play for India will have dedication,” said Gautam Gambhir.
“Yes, Kohli has worked a lot on his fitness and I would also urge the upcoming players to work on their fitness. It is something which is in your hands. Youngsters must learn from Kohli about fitness,” he added.
Further giving an example of how Shreyas Iyer has come over his short ball problem, the 42-year old added:
“Everyone works on their game. Shreyas Iyer has also worked hard on the short ball. No one talks about it. He has worked hard and every player does it,”
After not having a great start to the ODI WC 2023 , After turning things around, Shreyas Iyer ended up scoring 530 runs in 11 innings with a 66.25 average and a 113.25 strike rate. Which reflects on the statement given by the Gambhir.
First hundred is always very special – Gautam Gambhir on giving his Player of the Match award to Virat Kohli in 2009
During the interaction with additionally, Gambhir discussed his gesture of awarding Kohli Player of the Match during the 2009 Kolkata ODI against Sri Lanka. The former cricketer also said that he just want to encourage a youngster who had scored his first international hundred under pressure at a crucial stage of the game.
Gambhir (150*) and Kohli (107) added 224 for the third wicket as India chased 316 in 48.1 overs with seven wickets remaining.
“Honestly, I didn’t do anything which I shouldn’t have done. People don’t need to talk about it too much. The reason why I gave it was that when I came into the team as a youngster, I would have expected the same from my seniors. The first hundred is always very special,” said Gautam Gambhir.
“We were chasing 300-plus and were 20/2 at Eden Gardens after Sachin and Sehwag got out. Virat had played a wonderful knock in that match. I wanted to make a young cricketer’s first hundred memorable,” he added.