ExTeam India opener Gautam Gambhir disclosed that he found himself excluded from an Under14 team simply because he refused to show deference by touching the selectors feet. This incident led him to firmly decide never to engage in such practices.
Gautam Gambhir stated that he did not allow anybody else to touch his feet. He narrated the story on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel:
“When I was growing up when I was 12, 13 I remember my first under 14 tournament I did not get selected because I did not touch the selector’s feet and from there on I promised myself that I will never ever touch anyone’s feet and I did not do not ever let anyone touch my feet and I remember coming through my career.”
Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir is currently immersed in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team management structure. Recently appointed as a mentor for the teams ongoing journey in IPL 2024 Gambhirs strategic guidance propelled KKR to the leagues summit clinching an exceptional 20 points out of 14 energetic contests.
Gautam Gambhir Reflects on Pressure to Join Father’s Business Amid Cricketing Aspirations
Gautam Gambhir also discussed how, after a few setbacks in his profession, people would advise him to join his family firm. He highlighted that he needed to overcome that notion and demonstrate how much he wanted to achieve in his cricket career.
“Every time whether it was under 16 under 19 Ranji Trophy or even initially in my international career every time I would fail people would say that you come from a family (where) you don’t need to play cricket. You can go and join your dad’s business. So, that was the biggest perception that was hanging on my head and people did not realize that I wanted it more than them because I wanted to beat that perception.”
“So, when I was able to beat that perception no other perception ever bothers me because for me the toughest perception in my career or in my life was to beat that perception where people thought that I did not want it that hard and I wanted it more hard than any of them.”
Gautam Gambhir
On Tuesday, May 21, KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the first Qualifier of the IPL 2024.