Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. (Photo: Twitter)

Former India opener and KKR captain Gautam Gambhir wears his heart on his sleeves and doesn’t likes to mince words. Gambhir was a successful captain in the IPL. He led the Kolkata franchise to two IPL triumphs and said that as a captain he feared someone like Rohit Sharma and not Virat Kohli.

After KL Rahul scored a staggering century against the Virat Kohli-led RCB side, Gambhir said that the opener is one of those few batsmen who can hit the ball on both sides of the wicket. He also added that nothing to take away from Kohli but he is a leg-side dominant cricketer.

Rohit Sharma | Gautam Gambhir |
Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir.

“KL Rahul is one those very few batsmen, who can hit the ball on both sides of the wicket. Rohit Sharma is one and KL Rahul is another. Nothing to take away from Virat Kohli, but he is a leg-side dominant batsman.KL Rahul is very difficult to bowl when he is in that kind of mood as you can’t the pitch the ball, can’t give him width, can’t bowl in the stumps as he has a wide range like Rohit Sharma. When he is in good mood, he is impossible to stop.

“When I was captain, I feared Rohit Sharma more than anyone else as you got to have four-five plans against him and that wasn’t the case against Virat or eve an AB de Villiers. Against Virat and ABDv, you can just have two plans and AB might be Mr. 360 but you can bowl short balls against him and he has struggled against it, so it’s a nightmare to bowl against KL Rahul,” Gambhir said in a video interview with Espn Cricinfo.

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As Captain I Feared Rohit Sharma Not Virat Kohli: Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir was one of the most sought after Indian players when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him in 2011 and handed him the reigns of the side. Gambhir not only brought out the best from his players but also helped the franchise clinch success in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

KKR have also opted for a balanced side than a star-studded line-up. But their initial success came in the year 2012 after they clinched the IPL trophy. The franchise was looked as one of the most consistent as they clinched their second title in 2014 under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir was a part of the KKR franchise till 2017.