Villain Gautam Gambhir doesn't worry about being liked by anyone: Ex-CSK star
India Today
IPL 2026: Former CSK star Faf du Plessis and ex-India opener Aakash Chopra praised Gautam Gambhir's leadership and weighed in on whether Kolkata Knight Riders can thrive without their former mentor.
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has praised Gautam Gambhir for transforming Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) into a formidable unit in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though he never played alongside Gambhir, Du Plessis described him as a fierce competitor and acknowledged his relentless drive to win.
Du Plessis said Gambhir’s intensity and uncompromising standards, both as a player and coach, have been key to shaping winning teams. He added Gambhir doesn’t chase approval, focusing instead on discipline and accountability.
KKR enter their second straight season without Gambhir's mentorship, aiming to replicate their success from 2024 when they secured their third IPL title. Gambhir captained the team to victories in 2012 and 2014 and played a key role in mentoring the squad during their 2024 triumph.
"My perspective of Gambhir is obviously very different from the guys that have played with him. He is always the villain in the story when it comes to playing against him. But, you respect that. He is so competitive. He doesn't worry for one second to be liked by anyone. His job as a leader is to set high standards and have accountability within the dressing room. And that is what good leaders do," Du Plessis told JioStar's IPL Today Hot Takes.
He added, "You look from the outside, if you are a leader or a guy that plays against him, you want to beat him, because of the way he carries on as the opposition. But, you respect the fact he has set such high standards. You can see it in the way he talks to the team, he sets a standard and believes if you drop in your stand, I will be on your case. That's what good leaders do. They don't slip in those standards. He has created that since his playing days."
"If you look at his record, you have to take your hat off and say, from a leadership perspective, KKR with him, was a stronger side," Du Plessis concluded.
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