IPL 2021: Gautam Gambhir reveals 'genius thoughts' he caught on stump mic during RCB-MI clash

Players interacting with each other and planning out strategies whilst an ongoing game is a usual scenario. Sometimes when the wicketkeeper shares some inputs with a fielder or the bowler, the onlookers are able to hear it owing to the stump mic. However, the broadcasters are often the one who gets to know it in detail as they have the access to the stump mic.

Former India cricketer and commentator Gautam Gambhir, who is a part of the commentary panel of IPL 2021 opened up about an interesting chat they got to hear. He shared an instance from a match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore wherein an Indian bowler was trying to explain to his teammates how to shine the ball.

“A few days before that, during a Mumbai Indians vs RCB game, I heard some absolute ‘genius’ thoughts by a young Indian bowler on how to shine a cricket ball! To me, it sounded like an analysis paralysis but the young man was in full motion. I wasn’t surprised when the only response he got from teammates was, “Yaar, achchi length pe ball daal, shine ka tension mat le (Mate, just bowl a good length and don’t worry much about the shine),” Gambhir wrote in his column for the Times of India.

Broadcasting is an interesting space: Gautam Gambhir

The former India cricketer then opened up on the experience of being a part of the broadcasting unit. He stated that the ongoing pandemic had restricted ground access but there are certain other aspects that are fascinating. Gambhir said that hearing the conversations through the stump mic helps one understand the way a player or a group is thinking.

“Broadcasting is an interesting space. It gives you a different yet intimate seat in the house. The COVID outbreak has restricted the ground access for a few of us but then we are privy to a few other aspects which can be insightful and fascinating. One such source is the stump microphone audio which we the broadcasters have access to. Sometimes the conversations that we hear, tell us how a player or a group is thinking. It helps if the captain is expressive in nature.” he wrote further.