That stated, with Bravo’s vibrant persona in stark distinction to Gambhir’s reserved depth, may we see a change in KKR’s strategy within the coming season? “I believe it may be disrespectful of me to not attempt to discover out among the good issues he [Gambhir] did final season,” Bravo advised the media in Kolkata on Thursday. “But additionally the core of the crew is right here, and that was the responsibility of the coach and myself to return into the public sale and take a look at our greatest to get again as a lot as the identical squad of gamers from the championship-winning crew, and we had been capable of get that.
“However I believe GG [Gambhir] has his type and I’ve my type, and we each have been profitable in our personal methods. I undoubtedly messaged him a number of instances and stuff, so yeah… However once more, I will likely be leaning rather a lot on the fellows right here as a result of they’d a profitable system, and it is to observe that.”
One factor that was made clear in Thursday’s chat was KKR’s need to not enable Gambhir’s absence to grow to be a central theme of their new season. When Venkatesh was requested about his opinion on the change in mentors, Pandit interjected: “Excuse me guys, please. You recognize the present state of affairs. Allow us to not return. He [Bravo] has already answered on that, so, please.”
In Bravo, they’ve a mentor whose T20 credentials are almost unmatched. His 17 titles in T20 competitions are essentially the most for any participant. His 5 titles as captain – all within the Caribbean Premier League – are behind solely MS Dhoni (9) and Rohit Sharma (8), and equal with Shoaib Malik.
“And see, nothing can beat expertise. He is performed so many video games, [and] he is received so many video games for West Indies and the franchises that he is performed for. So, clearly, for us, working with him, I count on that I will get to be taught rather a lot with him each individually in addition to in a crew.”
“I’ve at all times performed wherever the crew needed me to play all through my profession, and that is been my considering,” Rahane stated. “At all times crew comes first. Nonetheless, for the primary recreation, now we have eight days to go, and we have to have extra conversations with the coach and mentor. However regardless of the crew desires, I’ll at all times give my greatest on that specific quantity.”
“On the similar time, I do need to inform you all that Venkatesh deserves that worth. Individuals are speaking about all this stuff, however he has completed nicely for this franchise on variety of events. So I believe he has deserved that worth.”
The fact is that pre-season questions round a price ticket as hefty as Venkatesh’s are onerous to keep away from. Venkatesh has grow to be conversant in this line of questioning over the past three months, and he stated there will likely be strain; however come the IPL, strain is one thing each participant experiences in some type.
“It’s actually thrilling to work with him… He is a hard-working tactician of what I’ve heard of him. I’ve at all times seen him go across the boundary line and retains speaking to the bowlers. So I am actually excited to play beneath him. “
Rahane on Bravo
“Wherever I’m going, I get requested this query, so it [pressure] exists, proper?” Venkatesh stated. “You possibly can’t ignore it altogether, however when the IPL begins, it actually would not matter. Stress is at all times there irrespective. If not the worth tag, it’s going to be one thing else. Choice, acting at your batting place, taking part in at a number of positions, bowling, fielding – there’s strain in every little thing for everybody. So the strain will nonetheless be there. It is simply as much as me now on how I soak up the strain. I can not ignore it altogether, so I will be trying to soak up it as a substitute whereas fulfilling my duties.”
Bravo completed the chat by explaining how, having labored with Shah Rukh Khan at Trinbago Knight Riders within the CPL over the previous decade, he’s eager to offer again to the person who invested in franchise cricket in his residence island, Trinidad and Tobago.
“Within the CPL, I began off with the Trinbago Night time Riders when SRK purchased the crew, and I used to be one of many happiest individuals on the planet to know that somebody like him confirmed an curiosity to purchase a crew – not solely within the Caribbean, however my hometown,” Bravo stated. “I used to be capable of assist construct the Trinbago Knight Riders into essentially the most profitable franchise in CPL historical past.
“That vitality and that vibe I will attempt to carry that right here as nicely. It is already a profitable crew, you recognize – behind Mumbai and CSK [both sides that Bravo has previously represented], now we have the third-most trophies within the cupboard. We want to construct on that, and I believe with a squad like this, now we have each alternative to take action.”
As for the hardest query of the night: “Is Bravo releasing a brand new track to seal his KKR affiliation?” Bravo replied, sporting a smile, that the Caribbean model of Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo must wait.
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx
