Gautam Gambhir. | (Image Credits: Gautam Gambhir X)
Team India coach and former Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has revealed the name of the only player in IPL who gave him sleepless nights. Gambhir has disclosed that he used to plan the most for Rohit Sharma, given the opener’s ability to take the game away from the opposition at any stage.
Rohit, the joint-most successful IPL skipper, has been relatively inconsistent in the IPL over the last few seasons. However, he has got a tremendous ability to hit boundaries at will. In 257 matches, the right-hander has amassed 6628 runs, striking at a decent 131.14.
“If Rohit is in, I don’t think anyone can take it easy” – Gautam Gambhir
Speaking in a video uploaded by Star Sports, Gambhir said he knew Rohit’s presence means he had to have multiple gameplans in place. The 43-year-old also suggested that he mostly relies on Sunil Narine to get the better of Rohit.
“Only player who has given me sleepless nights – no Chris Gayle, no AB de Villiers, only Rohit Sharma because I knew I had to have Plan A, Plan B and Plan C as well. If Rohit is in, I don’t think anyone can take it easy. The only batsman I feared in IPL is Rohit Sharma. I have never planned for any batter in IPL other than Rohit Sharma. There have been times where I have seen visuals and said ‘Plan A is fine’. But with Rohit, one night before I used to think, ‘If this doesn’t work, I have to get to other plan, if that doesn’t work, I have to get to other plans. If Sunil bowls the four overs, who will bowl the other 16. If Sunil is done and Rohit is still there, he can hit 30 off even one over.”
