Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop has given a befitting reply to a fan on social media who questioned the involvement of captain Shreyas Iyer in leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a top position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 points table. The fan had credited mentor Gautam Gambhir for the team’s rise, but Bishop highlighted the role of both Iyer and Gambhir in the team’s turnaround.
After enduring back-to-back poor seasons, finishing seventh in the points table, KKR roped in their former captain, Gambhir, as the new mentor for the 2024 season. Iyer, who missed the 2023 season due to injury, returned to the team this year. The combination of Iyer, Gambhir, and head coach Chandrakant Pandit has rejuvenated KKR, leading to eight wins in 11 matches, virtually guaranteeing them a playoff spot and potentially even a top-two finish.
Following KKR’s authoritative win against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium, Bishop took to social media to question the fans who had previously criticized Iyer. He posted, “Any love for Shreyas Iyer???” While some fans came to the support of the Indian star, the majority continued to credit Gambhir for KKR’s change in fortunes.
One fan wrote, “But GG came back, he worked his magic on Narine & kept young Angkrish as backup for early PP wicket & sent Shreyas+Venky in middle overs against spin where they’re more comfortable. Now we all can the huge impact of this calls, Shreyas may have some role in this but main man is GG.”
Bishop quickly shot back, questioning whether Gambhir would be blamed if KKR lost their next match. He wrote, “So GG gets the praise when they win. Shreyas gets the blame if they lose? Or will you say its GG’s fault to if they lose?”
With three more games in hand, KKR needs just one more win to secure their place in the playoffs. This will be their first appearance in the knockouts since 2021, when they reached the finals. If they finish in the top two, it will be their best show in the league stage since 2014, when Gambhir led them to the IPL title.
Bishop’s comments have sparked a debate on social media about the roles of both Iyer and Gambhir in KKR’s success, highlighting the complex dynamics of team leadership and the importance of recognizing the contributions of all players and support staff involved.
