IPL provides financial security to a cricketer which is equally important: Gautam Gambhir

At
the
TURF2022
&
India
Sports
Awards
of
FICCI,
Gambhir
was
felicitated
by
Sanjog
Gupta,
Chairperson,
Sports
&
Youth
Affairs
Committee,
FICCI
and
Head
–
Sports,
Disney
Star,
and
presented
with
a
token
of
appreciation.

The
former
Indian
opener,
who
led
Kolkata
Knight
Riders
as
captain
to
two
IPL
triumphs
went
on
to
speak
on
how
IPL
has
transformed
the
state
of
cricket
in
the
country,
over
the
years.

“IPL
is
the
best
thing
that
has
happened
to
Indian
cricket.
I
can
say
this
with
all
my
senses.
There
has
been
a
lot
of
backlash
regarding
IPL
since
it
started.
Every
time
Indian
cricket
does
not
do
well,
the
blame
comes
on
IPL,
which
is
not
fair.
If
we
don’t
perform
well
in
ICC
tournaments,
blame
the
players,
blame
the
performance,
but
it
is
unfair
to
point
fingers
at
the
IPL,”
Gambhir
said.

Gambhir
also
spoke
on
how
there
is
financial
security
among
players
due
to
IPL,
which
is
helping
in
the
development
of
more
players
at
the
grassroots
level.

“A
sportsman
can
only
earn
till
he
is
35-36.
IPL
provides
financial
security
which
is
equally
important,”
the
former
Indian
skipper
said
at
the
TURF2022
&
India
Sports
Awards
of
FICCI.

The
former
left-handed
batsman
praised
the
BCCI
for
employing
Indian
coaches
over
the
past
few
years
to
lead
the
national
team
and
further
stressed
the
need
of
bringing
in
more
Indian
coaches
in
IPL.

“One
good
thing
that
has
happened
in
Indian
cricket
is
that
Indians
have
started
coaching
the
Indian
National
Cricket
team
now.
I
strongly
believe
Indians
should
coach
the
Indian
team.
All
these
foreign
coaches,
who
we
gave
a
lot
of
importance
to,
come
here
to
make
money
and
then
they
vanish.
Emotions
are
important
in
sports.
The
only
people
who
can
be
emotional
about
Indian
cricket
are
the
ones
who
have
represented
their
country,”
Gambhir
said.

“I
am
a
mentor
of
Lucknow
Super
Giants.
One
thing
I
want
to
change
is
that
I
want
to
see
all
Indian
coaches
in
IPL.
Because
no
Indian
coach
gets
an
opportunity
in
Big
Bash
or
any
other
foreign
league.
India
is
a
superpower
in
cricket,
but
our
coaches
do
not
get
opportunities
anywhere.
All
the
foreigners
come
here
and
get
the
top
jobs.
We
are
more
democratic
and
flexible
than
other
leagues.
We
need
to
give
our
own
people
more
opportunity,”
he
added.

On
being
asked
about
who
he
sees
as
the
current
poster
boy
or
poster
girl
of
Indian
sports,
Gambhir
said
that
everyone
representing
the
country
is
a
poster
boy.
He
further
pressed
the
need
for
the
state
governments
to
adopt
the
Odisha
model
and
pick
up
one
Olympic
sport
to
promote.

“Sports
is
going
to
play
a
massive
role
in
the
development
of
India.
There
is
a
need
to
engage
young
children
in
sports
and
physical
activities
instead
of
their
electronic
devices.
Every
state
should
pick
up
one
sport
as
Odisha
has
done
with
Indian
hockey.
See
where
hockey
has
gone
today.
I
know
sports
ministry
is
doing
a
lot
and
corporates
are
getting
involved,
but
if
each
state
picks
up
one
sport
and
completely
focuses
on
that,
imagine
where
our
Olympic
sports
are
going
to
be,”
Gambhir
said.

“If
it
is
my
way,
probably
the
BCCI
should
also
go
on
and
give
50
per
cent
of
revenue
to
all
other
Olympic
sports,
though
it
is
not
my
way.
Because
50
per
cent
of
revenue
that
is
generated
out
of
cricket
is
enough
for
cricketers.
But
the
rest
of
the
50
per
cent
can
actually
pick
up
all
the
other
sports,”
he
signed
off.