Royal Challengers Bangalore’s record-breaking collapse against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens last week was one of the most memorable matches of the Indian Premier League. Chasing a low target of 132, Bangalore were incredibly bundled out for 49, the lowest score in IPL history. How did KKR manage to do it? Via a threat from skipper Gautam Gambhir during the mid-innings break.
In a column for Hindustan Times, Gambhir wrote that he was incensed with his team’s collapse from 65/1 to 131 all-out. “It was unacceptable,” he wrote, before revealing that he tried to cool himself down by having his favourite dish, going for a shower, but none of it worked. Eventually, he vented in front of the team.
“I started speaking and let go of all I had,” he wrote. “I wanted intensity from my teammates. I wanted them to fight. I wanted them to win.” Gambhir then literally threatened to drop players from the team if they lacked intent. “I told them whoever dropped on intent should understand that this could be his last game for KKR, at least in my captaincy,” he wrote.
The ploy worked, as Kolkata’s fiery pace attack of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme, and Umesh Yadav got the job done. Coulter-Nile, Woakes and De Grandhomme took three wickets apiece, with Yadav taking one in the end.
“The tone was set by Nathan Coulter-Nile,” Gambhir wrote. “During my stint with Justin Langer at Perth, I had seen Coulter-Nile train with the Western Australia state team. He is mean-looking guy, strong as an ox. We didn’t speak a word as I passed on the ball to him. He knew his job. The Aussie bowled like the wind and I supported him with attacking fields. My being under the helmet was more of a statement than a catching position. And then there was another sight which would have pleased every supporter of Indian cricket. An Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav having ‘Boss of Universe’ Chris Gayle ducking and weaving was the highlight of the game.”
Two KKR teams played that day, Gambhir said. One that batted in the first half and the second one that was playing for its life.
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