Opener Gautam Gambhir is making the most of an early end to the semifinal match between Delhi and Bengal earlier this week in Pune. Back home, it is time now to prepare for the final of the Ranji Trophy. Gambhir, the Delhi skipper till last season, is now playing as the most experienced player in a side dominated by youngsters. He has not only played a crucial role in Delhi's march to the finals, but he is also the lone player in the current team with the experience of playing in a Ranji Trophy final—and winning it. Ten seasons ago, it was under his captaincy that Delhi won the Ranji Trophy last. The opportunity to become the champion for the eighth time is here again—Delhi will take on first time finalists Vidharbha on December 29 in Indore.
The former India southpaw, who was relieved of captaincy by Delhi selectors this season, has scored three centuries and two half centuries in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. But, most importantly, these big runs have come in crucial matches and at crucial times. His second innings knocks of 95 against Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal and 127 against Bengal in the semifinals were key to the team reaching the finals.
At one of his family homes in Pusa Road, adjoining the city's busy commercial market Karol Bagh in central Delhi, the tall gates partially block the noise outside. He has just wrapped up a physical training session. There's a small knocking session planned too, perhaps, in the indoor facility specially set up in the premises.
One of the main reasons for Delhi's successful run in the Ranji Trophy this time has been the performance of the youngsters at crucial junctures. For years, Delhi has thrown up outstanding talent but, as a team, has never succeeded consistently.
Gambhir's Delhi captaincy ended last season in controversy after his bitter run in with coach K.P. Bhaskar. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan away on national duty, Delhi selectors decided to give the captaincy to Ishant Sharma whenever he was available for state duty or to exciting young batsman and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. While Sharma's presence in league stages made a big difference to Delhi's bowling attack, rated by many as lightweight otherwise, in his absence, pacers Navdeep Saini and Kulwant Khejroliya have made sensational impact along with Vikas Tokas. Spinners Vikas Mishra and Manan Sharma have ably supported them.
Gambhir celebrates his century during the Ranji Trophy semifinal match against Bengal, in Pune | PTI
The selections of Saini and Khejroliya have been contentious in the past seasons. Gambhir had many tiffs with the selectors and administrators while backing them and playing them in the Delhi team. A smile of satisfaction appears on his face when he is reminded of how the fierce battles he fought while backing the players had borne fruit. Saini has already caught the eye of the Indian team management.
Gambhir talks to THE WEEK about the current domestic season, what it will take for Delhi to become Ranji champions again; what motivates him to keep performing despite knowing that the chances of an India return are nearly non-existent. Excerpts:
Ten years ago the Ranji Trophy success was an important point in your career. How important is this one?
As a batsman, you have to keep scoring. That's your primary job—to score runs. That is what you are selected for. You don't get selected for anything else. Try and score as many runs as possible and try and help your team win.
What is your motivation to succeed in domestic cricket?
The hunger to score runs. Scoring runs gives me happiness. I still feel those emotions when I go out to bat. What if I don't score runs? Scoring runs gets me into the zone as well. You don't want a situation where you are being judged by your past performances. You are judged by your present performances.
If you score runs and your team is doing well then it is more satisfying than if you score runs and your team isn't doing well. Ultimately, it becomes a very individualistic thing. Runs you scored when your team is on losing side only goes in your record. The (Delhi) team has reached the finals. That's your first aim when the season starts—to go all the way.
You are a mentor to a lot of Delhi players.
All these words—mentoring, guiding, senior player—really do not exist in my dictionary. There are no seniors or juniors, just experienced and lesser experienced players in the team. These are very media-created words—finisher, opener, death bowlers. When I started playing, I never heard these words. Mentor is a word created to have just another position in the team. I only try to share my experiences.
But you have backed a lot of players who are now giving the results.
You want to back persons who have talent and who you feel will reach a certain level. There are lot of people who were talented in the past who never got the opportunity. You need to get that opportunity to showcase your talent. For me, it was important to get the talented guys in and give them a chance. Then it is up to them to grab the opportunity and take it forward.
The priority was to get the right people with right talent in the mix. And take Delhi cricket forward.
You have an eye for talent spotting—pacer Navdeep Saini, for instance.
It has to do with right intentions. If you are honest with yourself and have right intentions, the right talent will come through. If intentions are not right and other factors, like vested interests, are involved in judging the talent, then, obviously, you will never get the right talent in.
It really does not matter where the guy comes from. All that matters is what can he achieve and what kind of talent does he have.
What did you see in Saini?
He was different. When I faced him in the nets, I felt he was much better than all the guys playing for Delhi cricket. I thought he could do well and had a bright future irrespective of where he came from. The most pleasing thing is that he has improved every year. It doesn't matter whether he has performed well every year, but it is the improvement that is important. What I saw in him this year to what I saw when he made his debut four years ago, there's a huge difference but he still has a long way to go. One spell, two good spells in a season don't make you a complete bowler. You have to keep improving if you want to play for a longer period of time and at the highest level.
Your most vital knocks this season have come in the knockout rounds.
That is what I expect of myself—when the important games come, you have to put your hand up and deliver. That is all that matters to me. If I had to judge someone I would do so by the importance of the game and the innings. People can keep scoring runs through the season but if they don't qualify for the knockouts, it really doesn't matter.
It took 10 years for Delhi to make it to the final of the Ranji Trophy again. Why did it take so long?
The bottom line is we didn't play well. It is not about what was happening outside the field, the support staff is there to support you. The only thing that is different since then is that we had qualified for the knockouts but failed to reach the finals. This time around, it is different—batters have got runs, bowlers have chipped in. Whatever happened off the field does not make any difference to what happens on the field.
People never gave Delhi much of a chance this season, but teamwork has stood out. Your comments.
It is not about one individual—he does not change the fortune of the team. There will always be someone who will deliver. The guys did that in the knockout rounds and that's a good sign for Delhi cricket.
What will it take to win the Ranji Trophy?
Just try and play well. Don't even think it is a final. We played well in the league stage and knockouts because we haven't thought too much about winning the Ranji Trophy. It is about staying in the present and avoid putting too much pressure on yourselves. Ultimately, it is about scoring runs and taking wickets. Try and play the way you played in the semifinals. If we play to our strengths, we can beat any side; that's what we have shown. It's a five-day game, you will get opportunities. The important thing is when you get them, you have to try and capitalise on them.
In IPL, as Kolkata Knight Rider's most successful captain, have you had a chat with the franchise?
I haven't even spoken to anyone. After the finals, I will sit down and speak to the KKR and everyone and see how it going to go. If I get retained, I will be happy as I have played with KKR for a long time. But if I don't, let's see where it goes. Let's see what they have to offer and what I have in me to deliver, because more or less, they have achieved everything that they could—won the title twice, won 15 games in a row. KKR is a successful franchise. Sometimes, stagnation can be dangerous.
