Gautam Gambhir, former cricketer and outspoken commentator, has once again stirred the cricketing pot. Gautam Gambhir suggested that Ben Stokes is the favourite player among people in Delhi for reasons he deems inappropriate. Ben Stokes is an immense inspiration for the next generation of cricketers as he is someone who has excelled in all the 3 formats of the game.
Gautam Gambhir, former Indian cricketer known for his gutsy batting. He played 58 Tests, scoring 4154 runs with an average of 41.95. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), he amassed 5238 runs in 147 matches at an average of 39.68. Gambhir’s T20 International career saw him score 932 runs in 37 games.
Gautam Gambhir’s standout moment came in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, where his 97 runs played a crucial role in India’s victory. Leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he guided them to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir retired from all formats of cricket in December 2018.
Ben Stokes- a True Embodiment of Cricket
Ben Stokes is a true legend of English cricket. An all-rounder of exceptional talent, he excels with both bat and ball. His aggressive batting style and ability to swing the new ball and take crucial wickets have made him a force to be reckoned with. Stokes’ career is filled with highlights. He played a pivotal role in England’s historic 2019 Cricket World Cup win. His unbeaten 135 in the final against New Zealand and his composure in the Super Over are forever etched in cricketing memory.
Ben Stokes was also part of the victorious England team in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Despite recently opting out of the T20 World Cup defense in April 2024, Stokes remains a vital member of the England ODI squad. He recently came out of retirement for the 2023 World Cup, showcasing his continued commitment to the one-day format. Stokes continues to juggle his international duties with his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), currently playing for the Chennai Super Kings.
What Gautam Gambhir Said
Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener from Delhi, jokingly said something about the English Test captain Ben Stokes. He said that Stokes was well-known in Delhi, but not for the right reasons.
While speaking on Sportskeeda Cricket’s Match Ki Baat Show, Gambhir shared his thoughts on the best all-rounders in cricket, mentioning Stokes, Cameron Green, and Andre Russell. When the host humorously asked about Stokes’ popularity in Delhi for other reasons, Gambhir playfully responded,
“Ben Stokes is favorite player of people in Delhi for wrong reasons. He should be their favorite for another reason because he is a quality player. He has incredible quality,”
Gambhir believes that while the Impact Player rule in IPL 2024 may have affected the roles of some all-rounders negatively, he remains convinced that teams will always need a balance of specialist batters and specialist bowlers, and this balance won’t shift anytime soon.
The former Indian opener commented,
“I don’t think we will see ever see an era of specialists. All-rounders will always, always be in demand. Whatever changes take place in the future, I think all-rounders will be in more demand as compared to specialists. Teams need players who can contribute in all 3 departments,”
I started my career as a bowler – Gautam Gambhir On Him Not Being an All-Rounder
During the same show, Gautam Gambhir revealed that he initially started his cricketing journey as a specialist bowler before transitioning into an opening batter. Explaining why he never considered becoming an all-rounder, the former Indian opener stated,
“I never thought of becoming an all-rounder. In fact, I started my career as a bowler. I never thought of becoming an all-rounder because when I started opening the batting, I shifted my entire focus towards batting. See the job of an opener is quite challenging, especially in Test cricket,”
“If you talk about Test cricket, I don’t think there were too many openers who were also all-rounders. It is a specialized job. Imagine you had to field for 150-160 overs while bowling some overs as well, then after 10 minutes, you have to come out to open the batting, the recovery of the body will not be the same. Plus, the mental skill may not be the same,” he added.
Gambhir enjoyed a highly successful career as an opener for India, shining brightly in the team’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup finals with his exceptional batting displays.