IPL 2023: "KL Rahul And Krunal Pandya Are Aggressive Captains" - Yash Thakur Speaks On His IPL Experience And Working Alongside Gautam Gambhir

Last Update on: June 13th, 2023 at 03:36 pm

Yash Thakur, the rising star of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), made quite an impact in his debut season of the Indian Premier League 2023. The young bowler showcased his skills with the ball, proving to be a valuable asset for his team.

LSG, led initially by KL Rahul and later by Krunal Pandya, reached the playoffs for the second consecutive season, with Thakur playing a significant role in their success.

In his nine matches, Yash Thakur exhibited his prowess by claiming 13 wickets. Although his economy rate was slightly over 9, it was not a cause for concern considering his crucial role in the death overs. Thakur’s journey began on April 3 against the Chennai Super Kings, where he remained wicketless.

However, Yash Thakur quickly made his mark in the next match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, picking up his maiden wicket. It was in the clash against the Punjab Kings that Thakur truly announced his arrival on the big stage, taking an impressive four-wicket haul.

Also Read: IND vs WI: “I Think There Should Be Only One Final” – Harbhajan Singh Counters Rohit Sharma’s Statement As India Skipper Called For 3-Match WTC Final

I Had A Different Role With The Ball Under Both Captains: Yash Thakur

During a conversation with News18 CricketNext, Thakur reflected on his debut season, discussing his experience working under the captaincy of KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya, as well as sharing the dressing room with the legendary Gautam Gambhir, who served as the mentor for LSG.

Thakur began his IPL journey under the leadership of KL Rahul but found his stride when Krunal Pandya took charge due to Rahul’s thigh injury. The change in leadership allowed Thakur to display his skills in all three phases of the game. Speaking about his captains, Thakur described both Rahul and Krunal as aggressive and determined to dominate the opposition.

“KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya are aggressive captains. As a bowling group, they always want us to dominate the opposition batters, so it was not really difficult for us after Rahul was injured as KP bhai was also aggressive in his captaincy, wanting to dominate the opposition.”

“I played nine matches and I guess only 2-3 came under Rahul bhai’s captaincy and played majorly under KP bhai. I had a different role with the ball under both captains.”

Also Read: Asia Cup 2023: Mohammad Amir Slams Jay Shah And BCCI For Disrespecting Pakistan During Asia Cup Negotiations

I Was Very Lucky To Share The Room With Gautam Sir: Yash Thakur

The dressing room atmosphere created by the LSG team management, including mentor Gautam Gambhir, played a significant role in Thakur’s development. Yash Thakur highlighted the team’s united approach and their determination to win the trophy rather than simply participating in the tournament.

“Before the tournament, when we reached the 10 days camp, the first line said by a coach “We are here to win the trophy and we are not here to just participate. How can we can win the trophy that’s what we have to think. From thereon we were charged up, however, there were some ups and downs, we lost a couple of close matches which we would have won but we lost them.”

Also Read: Ashes 2023: Glenn McGrath, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan And Other Experts Make Their Predictions For The Upcoming Ashes

“We always stuck together as a team and the message in the camp was to win the trophy. I was very lucky to share the dressing room with GG sir (Gautam Gambhir). His approach is very different, he always reminds us that we have to win the trophy and every single game is important in the tournament.”

“He made sure be it an international or domestic player everyone is equal in the team. The atmosphere he created in the team was commendable – how can we work out our plans, how can we bounce back – we were like a family.”

In his debut IPL season, Yash Thakur showcased his talent and played a crucial role in the success of the Lucknow Super Giants. With aggressive captains like KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya leading the team and the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, Yash Thakur thrived in his role and contributed significantly to the team’s journey to the playoffs. The young bowler’s performances and his experiences in the IPL have undoubtedly set the stage for a promising career ahead.

“When I was selected in the auction, I was a bit nervous about playing under Gautam Gambhir’s guidance because I admire him since my childhood days. I was a big fan of his batting and captaincy. When I played my first match, he just told me one thing, ‘You are here because you deserve it.’

“He advised me to not take much pressure and play it like any other domestic match. He was always there, whenever anyone needs him he was always there for a chat. He was available 24/7 for us, it was not like he acted like a legend and he acted like he was one of them. He guided us, whenever we got time in practice sessions he taught us various aspects of the game. He advised me to calm myself which stood out for me in IPL,” Thakur said.