Gautam Gambhir is a fantastic thinker of the game: Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 24.75 crore ahead of IPL 2024. The Australia pacer was less than impactful in the league stages but only came good in the knockouts when it mattered the most. Then KKR mentor, Gautam Gambhir backed the pacers to the T and the latter has expressed his awe seeing the veteran’s tactical acumen.

Gambhir led the team to title wins in 2012 and 2014. He was signed as the mentor ahead of the 2024 season and the former southpaw delivered his best. Starch who played his debut season for KKR, called the former India opener as the great thinker of the game. It is worth noting that KKR won their third IPL title and Gambhir has been part of the winning team on all occasions.

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“Speaking from my experience at Kolkata, he is a fantastic thinker of the game. He’s always thinking about the opponent and how to get them out as a bowling attack or how to score runs as a batting attack. It’s not just individual players it’s always about the team focus and how to get on top of little things that he might see in techniques or in a field placement or anything like that,” Starc said on Star Sports.

Starc played 13 games for KKR and picked 17 wickets at an average of  26.11 and a strike rate of 14.76. He was instrumental in KKR’s Qualifier 1 win against Sunrisers Hyderabad as he picked up three crucial wickets. He continued the same form in the final, picking two wickets conceding just 14 runs and bowling three overs. He was adjudged Player of the Match in the final. 

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