After mentoring Lucknow Super Giants to a top-four finish in the IPL in their maiden outing, former India batter Gautam Gambhir has been elevated to the role of “global mentor” by the Sanjiv Goenka-led RPSG Group. In addition to his role with the Lucknow franchise. “He is one of the sharpest cricketing minds going around,” a statement from the RPSG Group read. “The group feels he can not only add value in Indian conditions but across the cricketing map as well.”

Also, Gambhir, a two-time IPL winning captain, was present in the dug out for all of Super Giants’ games in the IPL, and was a key member of the Lucknow franchise’s think-tank at the auction too. “In my ideology of a team sport, designations don’t play much role,” Gambhir was quoted as saying in the statement. “At best, they are there to facilitate a process to make a team win. As a global mentor of Super Giants I look forward to some added responsibility.

Also Read: IN-W vs PA-W, T20: The losing blame game

I look forward to some added responsibility- Gambhir

“My intensity and passion to win have just got international wings. It will be a proud moment to see the Super Giants family leave a global imprint. Earlier, he thanks Super Giants family for showing that faith in me. Guess it’s time for some more sleepless nights.” Gambhir will now also be working closely with the Durban franchise’s head coach Lance Klusener. On Friday, Klusener stepped down as batting coach of the Zimbabwe men’s team to “pursue professional engagements around the globe.”

The Durban franchise has a few other crossovers from the Lucknow team, with Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers. 5 players signed up by the franchise ahead the SA20 auction, while the likes of Reece Topley, Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Dilshan Madushanka and Wiaan Mulder were added during the auction.

On Sunday, India fell to Pakistan in their Super-4 stage opener. The Babar Azam-led team won the Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Stadium by five wickets after a thrilling encounter that lasted till the very last over. India had an excellent chance to defeat Pakistan in the present continental tournament after scoring 181 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs, but Pakistan won thanks to Mohammad Rizwan’s 71 off 51 balls and Mohammad Nawaz’s vital cameo of 42 off 20 balls.

On Tuesday, India plays Sri Lanka in a game that must be won. Before the game, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir recommended that the team management insert Avesh Khan in favour of Yuzvendra Chahal in the starting XI.

The young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, according to the former India opener, should be given a “longer run.”

“Avesh (Khan) for (Yuzvendra) Chahal. Definitely continue with Ravi Bishnoi, he has done everything in this game. Chahal hasn’t bowled that well in this competition so probably it is time to give Bishnoi a longer run,”

said Gambhir on Star Sports after the match against Pakistan on Sunday

Against Pakistan last week, Bishnoi had four overs with a 1 for 26 strike rate. Avesh was not on the team for the Super-4 game, and Chahal had a 1-for-43 record in his four overs.

ALSO READ:  Asia Cup 2022 – Challenge To Face World Beaters India: Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka

Avesh and Chahal both participated in India’s opening game of the season against Pakistan on August 28. Chahal allowed 32 runs without taking a wicket in four overs, compared to Avesh’s 19 runs for one wicket in two overs.

In the second game, which was against Hong Kong, Chahal had a four-over average of 0 for 18, while Avesh had a four-over average of 53 runs for one wicket.

Veteran opener Gautam Gambhir gave his opinion on Team India’s split captaincy – Rohit Sharma (white-ball) and Virat Kohli (red-ball). The BCCI has brought back the split captaincy to Indian cricket after several years as Kohli decided to relinquish T20I captaincy. However, he was sacked from his ODI leadership as the selectors wanted to have a single captain for white-ball formats. Several cricket critics welcome the appointment of Rohit’s appointment as ODI captain, however, some of them also criticized the handling of the situation.

Gambhir, who is very vocal about his opinions, said that it’s a very good sign for Indian cricket and Rohit will get enough time to groom the team in the limited-overs format. “I think it’s good for Indian cricket that now we have got two captains, one in red-ball cricket and one in white-ball cricket, so Rohit will get enough time to groom white-ball cricket – whether it is the T20 format or ODI format,” Gambhir said on Star Sports. The former India opener heaped huge praise on Rohit and said Indian cricket is in very safe hands with the Hitman as the leader in white-ball cricket.

“I feel Rohit Sharma as a leader will definitely do really well for Indian cricket. Plus Indian cricket is in very safe hands, especially in white-ball cricket.” “He has won five IPL titles. He must be doing something right as compared to other captains,” said the former Indian opener. Gambhir further emphasized Rohit’s calm attitude which will help the entire squad. “At the same time, his calmness and sometimes his laidback attitude as well, keeping things very relaxed. At the same time, not pushing players too hard, and he himself is a very chilled-out character, which actually helps the entire squad,” he added.

Must Read: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars Big Bash Today Match Prediction

‘You Will See The Same Virat Kohli, for India- Gambhir

Rohit has a tremendous winning percentage of 80 as an ODI captain with 8 wins out of 10 matches. His first assignment as the permanent ODI captain will come next month on the South Africa tour. The swashbuckling opener is also announced as the new vice-captain of India’s Test team replacing Ajinkya Rahane. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels Virat Kohli will come with double the intensity, and the captaincy saga won’t bother him in the near future. The 33-year-old was sacked as India’s ODI skipper on Wednesday sending shockwaves across the cricket world.

Kohli’s sacking came at a moment when the 33-year-old had made it very clear that he would like to lead the side in ODIs in the near future while stepping down from the position of T20 captain. Critics do feel that he might lack the intensity when he returns in the blue jersey. However, Gambhir didn’t feel so. “I am sure India will see the best of Virat Kohli, whether it is red-ball cricket or white-ball cricket. At the same time, the kind of passion he has shown over such a long period of time or the energy, you are going to see the same out of Virat Kohli, whether he is the captain or not.”

“I am sure he is going to make India proud, he is going to keep getting runs in white-ball cricket or in red-ball cricket. At the same time, there will be two different guys probably giving their own thoughts, giving their own vision for the team.” He added Kohli is such a player who wouldn’t lose his passion and energy despite all the off-field saga that is happening around him. He said no captaincy might free him up which means a renewed, more aggressive Kohli. “Same as Rohit Sharma’s role in red-ball cricket, it’s just that captaincy is not there. It might just free Virat Kohli up much more.”

Kohli was sacked of his position by the BCCI with the President Sourav Ganguly justifying the decision. He said Kohli was asked not to step down from the position of T20 skipper, but he chose not to listen citing workload. The BCCI didn’t want multiple captains in white-ball cricket, he informed News 18 in an exclusive.

With Squad members name being announced by the BCCI, here’s Gautam Gambhir’s take on the team players that should play the match against Pakistan. Read the full article here.

The T20 Mega Event will kick start on October 17. With the matches taking place at Dubai and Oman, every cricket lover must have marked their calendars. While many exciting big clashes are lined up, India vs Pakistan is perhaps the most awaited among all. It is a known fact that both nations share a great cricket rivalry since ages.

The arch-rivals, India and Pakistan will come face to face  at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. Interestingly, both teams have played 11 matches in World Cup events with victory emerging on India’s side every time.

Initially, a month before the start, the BCCI presented a list of 15 members squad for the T20 mania raising eyebrows among fans and cricket experts with exits of big names like Dhawan and Chahal and entry of R Ashwin. Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir shared his take on the India-Pakistan match and the 11 team players according to him for the clash against Pakistan. The players according to him are Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah. Gambhir feels that, “KL Rahul and Rohit Sharam should be the openers, Kohli to bat at no. 3, Yadav at No.4, Pant at No.5, Hardik at No.6, Jadeja at No.7, Bhuvneshwar at No.8, Varun Chakravarthy at No.9, Shami at No.10 and Bumrah No.11”. “At least during the start of the tournament. It is going to be the first game. I am sure it is not going to be a rank turner. Probably going deeper into the second half of the tournament you might pick another spinner but not in the initial half of the tournament.” concluded the 39-year-old.

Surprisingly, Gautam Gambhir has picked four teams that turned out to be semi-finalists in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup. This time, it will be interesting to see whether the former KKR Captain’s prediction turns out to be true , turning all the odds in favour of India!