Suryakumar Yadav’s rise to prominence as a key player in the Indian cricket team and Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup has been well-documented. However, it was not always so rosy for the right-handed batter. Before becoming a regular in the national side and a star for MI, Yadav was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders set-up from 2014 to 2017. While KKR won the IPL title twice during Yadav’s tenure, the batter himself failed to make a significant impact. Former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir, reflecting on that era, has now admitted that not identifying Yadav’s potential or his best batting position in the lineup remains his biggest regret. Yadav, who began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2012, was released by the franchise after just one match. He was then picked up by KKR in 2014 and played a part in their title-winning campaign that season. Over the course of his four years with KKR, Yadav amassed 608 runs in 54 matches, but most of those runs came batting in the lower middle order. Speaking to Sportskeeda, Gambhir expressed his regret over not being able to fully utilize Yadav’s talent. He admitted that Yadav should have been utilized higher up the order, where he could have been more effective. Despite not being a regular in the playing XI, Gambhir praised Yadav’s team spirit and work ethic. He revealed that Yadav was appointed as the team’s vice-captain in 2015 due to his positive attitude and willingness to contribute to the team’s success. Yadav’s subsequent success with MI and the Indian team has vindicated Gambhir’s belief in his potential. The batter has established himself as one of the most exciting and consistent performers in white-ball cricket, and his absence from the KKR team during his peak years remains a missed opportunity for the franchise.
Gambhir’s Biggest Regret: Suryakumar Yadav’s Unfulfilled Potential at KKR
