With Gautam Gambhir at the helm as India’s head coach following the triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup, a new era of Indian cricket has begun. Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense approach and a keen eye for impactful players, has a vision that transcends mere statistics. His recent success as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor, where he led them to an IPL title in 2024, has cemented his reputation as a strategist who values performance and potential over numbers. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announcing their retirements from T20 internationals and Suryakumar Yadav stepping up as the new captain, the stage is set for fresh faces to rise and shine. Here are five underachievers who are expected to get a long run under Gambhir’s stewardship:
1. RIYAN PARAG
Riyan Parag, a promising all-rounder, had a sensational breakthrough season with Rajasthan Royals in 2024, amassing over 500 runs. His explosive batting and newfound bowling prowess, highlighted by his career-best figures of 3/5 in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, have made him a valuable asset. Despite his previous inconsistencies, Parag’s recent performances have caught the eye of Gambhir, who values match-winning capabilities. Gambhir’s philosophy of nurturing talent aligns perfectly with Parag’s potential. The young cricketer's aggressive batting style and ability to contribute with the ball make him a versatile player for the limited-overs format. Under Gambhir’s guidance, Parag is expected to refine his skills and become a mainstay in India’s white-ball squads. Gambhir’s emphasis on impact over mere statistics will likely see Parag getting ample opportunities to prove his worth and develop into a consistent performer.
2. SARFARAZ KHAN
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Cricket Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2024 de Cricket Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
FORMULA 1 IN 2025: CLOSE RACING, LEWIS HAMILTON AT FERRARI, AND PLENTY OF NEW FACES
Major rule changes in F1 tend to shake up the established order but can let one team gain a big advantage. When the same rules are in place for a while, teams tend to be more evenly matched. The season-long competition....
ARYNA SABALENKA WINS THE WTA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, won the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, along with two other titles this season, going 56-14 with nearly $10 million in prize money. She overtook Iga Swiatek for the top...
MESSI AND RONALDO MISS OUT ON MEN'S FIFPRO WORLD XI
The all-time soccer greats did not make the men's World Team of the Year organized by the global Players' Union FIFPRO. The 37-year-old Messi, who plays for MLS side Inter Miami, and the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr...
IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 3 WEAKNESSES OF PUNJAB KINGS
The major attraction during the auction for PBKS was the capture of Shreyas Iyer. Punjab went all out for the IPL title-winning captain of 2024. A sum of Rs. 26.75 crore was spent on the Indian batter, who was with Kolkata Knight Riders. IPL’s highest wicket-taker and the best T20 performer with the ball among....
IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU
Spin is RCB’s main weakness. They are heavily reliant on bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya. Notably, Pandya was dismal last season, averaging 42.50 and taking six wickets from 14 matches. The season before that, he picked nine scalps at 34.77...
IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Batting is RR's second major strength. In Samson and Jaiswal, RR get a strong combination to tear opposition sides apart. Samson is highly experienced, with over 7,200 runs in T20s. He has smashed six tons. Jaiswal is the present and future of both RR and Team India. Former KKR ace Nitish Rana...
IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF DELHI CAPITALS
The pace attack of DC is a real deal. Starc is a big-match player, and we witnessed that last season when he helped the Kolkata Knight Riders in vQualifier 1 and then the final. He picked 14 wickets last season for KKR. In Natarajan, DC get a proven customer in the IPL...
IPL 2025: 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
SRH won their only IPL title in 2016 and is awaiting to add to the tally. Last season, they were second best against a well-drilled KKR side both in Qualifier 1 and then in the final. Many will feel that SRH could take a step further this time, given the balance. Also, they have a skipper in Cummins who is one of the best in the business...
IPL 2025: DECODING 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 1 WEAKNESS OF GUJARAT TITANS
In IPL 2025, we could see more of Washington Sundar, who perhaps didn't get the desired games in his former franchises. Sundar has a strong economy rate of 6.96 in T20s. Given his recent exploits with Team India, Sundar can be a good option in the ranks supporting Rashid. Domestic star Sai Kishore...
IPL 2025: 3 WEAKNESSES AND 2 STRENGTHS OF LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
LSG have a solid pace attack on offer with top Indian specialists. Mayank is such a pivotal figure in this side. Currently, the fastest Indian bowler, Mayank, impressed in the 4 games he played last season, taking 7 scalps at 12.14. A lot will revolve around him. In Mohsin, LSG get another solid customer...
