Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir apologized to Brendon McCullum in front of the entire team during the 2012 IPL season. Gautam Gambhir recently explained the reason behind his decision to apologize to Brendon McCullum.
The Knight Riders faced a setback when Lakshmipathy Balaji injured his hamstring ahead of the final against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Balaji’s injury disrupted their winning combination, leading to Brendon McCullum’s exclusion from the playing XI in the final.
Gambhir chose to replace Balaji with Brett Lee in the playing XI. Manvinder Bisla filled in as Gambhir’s opening partner for the summit clash to comply with the overseas player quota. The Kolkata-based team defeated the Super Kings to win the IPL 2012 trophy match.
Had The Courage To Apologize To Brendon McCullum – Gautam Gambhir
In a video posted on Instagram, Gautam Gambhir elaborated on his decision to publicly apologize to Brendon McCullum. Gambhir expressed regret for dropping McCullum, clarifying that it was due to team strategy rather than performance.
“Before leaving for that final at Chepauk, I actually said sorry to Brendon McCullum in front of the entire team. I said ‘I am really really sorry I had to drop you. The reason is not your performance, the reason is our combination.’ No one wanted to do that. But I had the courage to apologize to him in front of the whole team. Nothing wrong in apologizing,” Gambhir said.
Manvinder Bisla played an exceptional innings, scoring 89 runs off 48 balls, as the Kolkata Knight Riders successfully chased down a challenging target of 191 runs in 19.4 overs. Bisla was awarded Player of the Match as the Knight Riders secured their maiden title.
Sometimes It’s Awkward – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir highlighted the importance of open and effective communication within a team. The former Indian opener acknowledged that while such conversations may be uncomfortable, they are essential for leadership development.
“Had I not apologized in front of the entire team, somewhere deep inside my heart, I would have had that guilt that I have not communicated well enough. Leadership is not only about taking appreciation or shutting yourself off or taking credit. It’s about doing this stuff as well. Sometimes it’s awkward but that’s how you grow as a leader,” Gambhir stated.
The 42-year-old clinched an IPL title with KKR in 2014, representing the franchise’s most recent championship victory. He was appointed as the mentor for KKR in the upcoming IPL 2024 season, and his guidance is anticipated to revitalize the team’s performance.
Gambhir played 154 IPL matches, accumulating 4218 runs at a remarkable T20 average of 31.01, including 36 half-centuries, with a notable strike rate of 123.91. The southpaw moved to the Delhi Capitals in 2018 and later retired from all cricket formats later that year.
KKR’s playoff hopes have been dashed in the past two seasons since their 2021 final appearance. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana, the team recorded six wins and eight losses each, resulting in a seventh-place finish during their tenure.
Also read: IND vs AUS: Gautam Gambhir Gets Much Less Credit Than He Deserves- Ravichandran Ashwin
