Acclaimed former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, celebrated for his crucial contributions on the cricket field, recently unveiled who he considered his most cherished batting colleague. Despite having fashioned numerous pivotal stands with the explosive Virender Sehwag, Gambhir disclosed that it was the venerable ex-captain of India, MS Dhoni, with whom he preferred to construct match-winning partnerships, particularly in the limited-overs format.
In an exclusive interview, the seasoned left-handed batsman cast light on his affinity for batting alongside Dhoni, a sentiment that has piqued the interest of cricket aficionados. “My favourite batting partner was MS Dhoni. While many might assume it was Sehwag, it was actually Dhoni I relished playing with more, especially in white-ball cricket. We shared big partnerships,” revealed Gambhir to Sportskeeda, reminiscing about the days when the duo orchestrated India’s batting efforts.
This revelation comes amidst an illustrious 12-year career, during which Gambhir attested himself as one of India’s preeminent openers. His alliance with Sehwag at the top of the order was renowned for laying formidable platforms for the Indian side. However, the camaraderie Gambhir and Dhoni shared is perhaps best symbolized by their pivotal roles in the memorable 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka—a partnership that culminated in India clinching the coveted trophy after a 28-year hiatus.
The bond between the two stalwarts, both on and off the pitch, has now entered the annals of Indian cricketing lore, marked by an evolved understanding and a shared approach towards pacing an innings. It’s where Gambhir’s technically solid game complimented Dhoni’s calm and calculative assault, blending aggression with resolve to steer the team towards many a victory.
A Twitter post emphasized the significance of their partnership, echoing the sentiments of a nation grateful for their contributions:
Partnership that won us WC after 28 years 🇮🇳 @MSDhoni – @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/PLqFYSzdfN
In related developments within the cricketing administration, Gambhir recently took a significant professional stride, as announced by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)’s CEO Venky Mysore. An end of an era was signaled with Gambhir’s departure as mentor of the Indian Premier League franchise Lucknow Super Giants—an association that spanned two years and saw the team reaching the finals of the IPL 2022 edition. The exhaustive journey with LSG also witnessed a third-place finish in the league standings for the 2023 campaign, falling short of reaching the final again.
Transitioning back to familiar territory, Gambhir will reprise his role as a guide and strategist at KKR, a team he led to two IPL titles during his tenure as captain. On this occasion, Gambhir took to expressing his sentiments and gratitude:
“As I announce the end of my impeccable journey with Lucknow Super Giants, I am filled with love and immense gratitude towards all the players, coaches, support staff and every individual who has made this journey memorable. I would like to thank Dr. Sanjiv Goenka for his inspiring leadership while creating this remarkable franchise and for his tremendous support to all my endeavors. I’m sure that the team will do wonders in the future and will make every LSG fan proud. All the very best LSG brigade!”
Gambhir, whose mentoring was pivotal to LSG’s performance, is now set on imbuing KKR with his rich experience and tactical acumen in his renewed mentorship role. As the carousel of the IPL continues to spin, Gambhir’s shift marks a homecoming to a team and a city that have cherished his leadership and prowess.
The cricket world now keenly anticipates the dynamics of these changes and the continued impact of Gambhir’s strategic brilliance in shaping the fortunes of one of the IPL’s most successful franchises.
As the next chapter of his storied career unfolds, Gambhir—a man known for his forthright views and formidable presence on the cricket field—remains a force to reckon with, now from the sidelines, directing the play with the same fervor and acuity that once made him a revered figure at the crease.
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