IPL 2019 | I'd be disappointed with Russell if I was Dinesh Karthik, says Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir is surprised with Andre Russell’s press conference, which created a stir, and has said that he would be disappointed with the all-rounder if he was Dinesh Karthik. Russell’s press conference, after KKR's successive defeats, drew criticism from many including Gambhir.
After an emphatic start to the season, Kolkata Knight Riders lost six games on the trot only to find themselves in hot water in the business end of the tournament. After a series of losses, Russell’s press conference, where he criticised the team for lack of passion and bad decisions, raised quite a few eyebrows.
Gautam Gambhir has successfully led KKR to two titles in his IPL career and has been influential as a captain. In his column for Times of India, Gambhir clarified that he initially got the wrong end of the stick on Russell’s comments over series of losses the side had suffered.
"I was disappointed with Andre Russell's comments where he termed the KKR team atmosphere as "unhealthy". In one of the recent interviews I did express my regret. But looks like, I jumped the gun. One of my journalist friends sent me a link to his press conference with a message that I had misinterpreted Russell's comments. He was right. Russell was only mentioning about disappointing team atmosphere after a string of losses. May be his choice of words was wrong which led me to think that there were cracks in the KKR ranks," Gambhir wrote.
However, Russell’s comments on the team’s lack of passion and bad decisions somehow didn’t please Gambhir and said he would be disappointed as the captain of the team. Gambhir stated that ups and downs are a part of the journey and KKR did make a few errors but a team’s ambience and talk shouldn’t be discussed in the press conference.
“But Russell then goes on to talk about "lack of passion" and "bad decisions" by the team. In my humble opinion this was uncalled for. I can understand his emotions for KKR but I'd be disappointed if I was Dinesh Karthik. No one wants to lose. No one wants to take poor decisions and KKR did take some ordinary calls this year. That doesn't mean that these things should be discussed in a press conference!!!"
Gambhir further went on to add that there were many occasions when he didn’t agree with MS Dhoni during his playing days in India, but that never leaked out. The southpaw also advised that the KKR team management should have a word with Russell and clear the air.
"In crunch situations like these where one loss could be the end of KKR's season, senior guys need to close ranks even more. I have had plenty of disagreements with my teammates. On more than one occasion I didn't agree with captain MS Dhoni, but these things remained within the team. I think someone from the coaching staff or KKR management should sit down with Russell and explain to him the relevance of a cohesive dressing room. I know the media is just trying to do their job and get their headlines but as a player I never obliged them," Gambhir added.
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