"I hope IPL is not a shortcut...": KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir (Pic: File Pic)

Kolkata Knight Riders mentor and former India player Gautam Gambhir loves the IPL and the quality of cricket it produces, but at the same time does not want it to become a shortcut to the national team for young players.

Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube show, 'Kutti Stories with Ash', Gambhir said, "The bigger concern that arises is about how many youngsters want to play Test cricket for India. I hope the IPL is not a shortcut to play for India."

Gambhir also mentioned that the cash-rich league has benefitted Indian domestic players.

"Today, when I look at international T20 sides, apart from 2-3 teams, I don't see enough competition when it comes to playing for India," he said.

"Not many teams can match the quality that India has. So, I feel that in today's day and age, IPL has become far more competitive than international T20 cricket.

"Just the quality of the domestic players has changed, the way domestic players want to play in the IPL and the way they work around T20 cricket I think most of their focus is on playing T20 cricket."

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Gambhir played a crucial role in helping India win the ODI World Cup in 2011 and also led KKR to win two IPL titles in the years 2012 and 2014. In the IPL 2024, he returned to KRR as the team's mentor. Gautam Gambhir is known for his outspoken attitude and serious manner.

Speaking on the same, Gambhir said, "I'm not breaking any rules. I want to be as aggressive as I can be. And what's wrong with that?

"That's my nature. That's my characteristic because, for me, winning, it's an obsession, and I'm obsessed with winning. That's the problem I have."

Gambhir also clarified that he doesn't need to smile since the fans come to watch him help the team win and that all he cares about is his players giving their 100% on the field.

"Sometimes when people talk about he doesn't smile or love. He's always intense, grumpy, walking on the edge, old and has his game face on," he said.

"People don't come to watch me smile. Unfortunately, people come to watch me win. That's the kind of profession we guys are in. I can't help it."

"I'm not an entertainment. I'm not a Bollywood actor, or I'm not a corporate. I'm a cricketer into performing art.

"My job is I want to come back in a willing dressing room. Fortunately, unfortunately, a winning dressing room is a happy dressing room is a winning dressing."

(With PTI Inputs)