Known for his blunt and straightforward opinion, former India opener Gautam Gambhir has taken a cheeky jibe at the “Fairplay Award” given in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Gambhir, who is currently associated with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a mentor, admitted that his presence with any franchise seems to negatively impact their chances of winning the Fairplay Award.
This particular award is given to the team for their on-field conduct during the course of the season and KKR are currently occupying the ninth spot out of 10 teams.
Speaking on R Ashwin’s YouTube chat show ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’, Gambhir said teams should prioritize winning silverware over secondary awards.
“At the end of the IPL season, you’re going to have an IPL trophy in your hand. Would you prefer that or would you be a popular cricket and not have that trophy?” Gambhir asked Ashwin.
Ashwin replied: “I don’t want the Fairplay award.”
Gambhir went on to add: “Someone sent me a message a couple of days ago. KKR is where KKR is at the moment. I said yeah. At the top. ‘In fair play?’ I said number 10. ‘Is there a trophy?’ I said, No.”
“I still don’t understand. What have we done wrong in the last five games? Probably it’s just because I was sitting in the dugout,” Gambhir added.
“I am sure you would have seen this when we used to go to school like the favourite children in the class would get these incentive cards. Yeah. Like the merit cards, well-behaved cards,” Ashwin said.
“Unfortunately, even then I was a backbencher. I was made to sit on the last bench. It’s been going with me since I was a young kid and has continued like that,” Gambhir revealed.
“The moment I am there with any franchise to fairplay award, we are either number nine or 10. Last year LSG was number nine and KKR is number 10. So if you want a Fairplay Award, stay away from me,” he further stated.
In a lighthearted moment, Gambhir also reminisced about his warm hug with former RCB skipper Virat Kohli earlier in the season.
“Honestly, I believed we will be at the top of the table because of what has happened at Chinnaswamy. I thought, there is no competition, irrespective where are we on the points table but we got to be at the top of the fair play table. We are still at the bottom of the fair play award,” Gambhir said.
“Is that one part of the conversation SRK has had with you. Gambhir, at whatever cost, you are back in the team but I want the Fairplay award?” Ashwin asked.
“Probably you need someone else in the dugout, because you will never have that Fairplay award till I am there. I have done the best I could, to the best of my ability. Still we are number 10 in the fair play award,” Gambhir said.
