NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir, who is currently coaching Kolkata Knight Riders, has expressed the view that the Indian Premier League has surpassed international T20I cricket in modern competitiveness.
Gambhir previously coached Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2021 and 2022 and has had a successful career with Knight Riders, having led them as skipper in 2012 and 2014. led to two IPL titles.
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The 42-year-old veteran stressed that while international cricket was once thought to be more difficult than franchise cricket, the situation has recently reversed. Gambhir particularly highlighted the IPL and said, “International cricket was much tougher than franchise cricket. But today, looking back at the latter half of my career in franchise cricket, franchise cricket was much tougher than the international T20 format. I think it's gotten a lot tougher.” , especially his IPL. ”
“I don't know about other leagues, because if you look at the first three or four years of playing international matches, you're literally playing against five or six top-level bowlers. , When it comes to IPL in the league, in the initial years when the standards were not as good as they are now, you could always target two or three domestic bowlers,” he added.
Similarly, Gambhir pointed out that it is easier for batsmen to score runs in franchise cricket compared to international T20 matches. He said that apart from a few exceptional teams, the level of competition in international T20 cricket does not come close to the quality that India has.
“For batsmen, it is much easier to score runs in franchise cricket compared to international cricket. If you look at international T20 venues today, barring two or three venues, there is not enough competition when the time comes. In today's day and age, IPL is far more competitive than international T20 cricket, as there aren't many teams playing for India that can match India's quality. I think there is,” Gambhir further said.
As the IPL playoffs approach, Gambhir's KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday with a place in the final on the line.
(Input from ANI)
Gambhir previously coached Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2021 and 2022 and has had a successful career with Knight Riders, having led them as skipper in 2012 and 2014. led to two IPL titles.
See also: IPL Orange Cap | IPL Purple Cap
The 42-year-old veteran stressed that while international cricket was once thought to be more difficult than franchise cricket, the situation has recently reversed. Gambhir particularly highlighted the IPL and said, “International cricket was much tougher than franchise cricket. But today, looking back at the latter half of my career in franchise cricket, franchise cricket was much tougher than the international T20 format. I think it's gotten a lot tougher.” , especially his IPL. ”
“I don't know about other leagues, because if you look at the first three or four years of playing international matches, you're literally playing against five or six top-level bowlers. , When it comes to IPL in the league, in the initial years when the standards were not as good as they are now, you could always target two or three domestic bowlers,” he added.
Similarly, Gambhir pointed out that it is easier for batsmen to score runs in franchise cricket compared to international T20 matches. He said that apart from a few exceptional teams, the level of competition in international T20 cricket does not come close to the quality that India has.
“For batsmen, it is much easier to score runs in franchise cricket compared to international cricket. If you look at international T20 venues today, barring two or three venues, there is not enough competition when the time comes. In today's day and age, IPL is far more competitive than international T20 cricket, as there aren't many teams playing for India that can match India's quality. I think there is,” Gambhir further said.
As the IPL playoffs approach, Gambhir's KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday with a place in the final on the line.
(Input from ANI)