IPL 2022: ‘Great opportunity to create a legacy’, Gambhir opens up on Lucknow’s strategy for mega auction

Gambhir will be among the main brains behind Lucknow Super Giants' strategy at the upcoming auction.

By Salman Anjum - 29 Jan, 2022

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has the experience of building a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to two titles in seven seasons.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 edition, Gambhir has been roped in by the Lucknow Super Giants as a team mentor and he will be among the main brains behind the newly-formed franchise’s strategy at the mega auction, scheduled for February 12 and 13.

The Lucknow-based team has already signed KL Rahul as captain, in addition to Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as its draft picks.

"I think it's a great opportunity to create a legacy and create something which has never been created before. We don't want to copy anyone; we need to have our own template, we need to have our own legacy as well. And what better than when you have no baggage,” said Gambhir in a discussion with journalist Boria Majumdar on his show ‘Backstage with Boria'.

“Sanjiv (Goenka) sir, when he had Pune (franchise), they missed winning the title by one run. So it's going to be a great challenge if we can finish that unfinished business as well but then we can't promise that it's going to happen in one year. It's a long-term prospect as well. It's not going to be something like we are going to think only for this year,” he added.

Gambhir was pleased with the signing of Bishnoi, who has the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game.

According to the Lucknow team mentor, the franchise will be looking at players like Bishnoi to invest in at the mega auction.  

"Ravi Bishnoi, from that point of view, made a lot of sense as well. He is young, he is a wicket-taking option and he is got to be your sure-shot guy playing in the playing XI; he can bowl at different stages of the game. More importantly, he is an uncapped player as well. So from every sense, it made a lot of logic for us to actually get him on board so that we can develop him going forward," explained the former KKR captain.

"If he keeps his head on his shoulder, he will get better from here on. Going forward, if you see most of the leg spinners, this is probably the youngest of the lot and probably the most talented of the lot as well.  So from that point of view, we have a present and a long-term strategy as well. So hopefully it will be a good journey going forward.”

By Salman Anjum - 29 Jan, 2022

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