Gambhir compares IPL to T20 World Cup in terms of competition level

Gautam Gambhir, a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and a former Indian cricketer, recently compared the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the T20 World Cup, emphasizing its status as the most challenging league globally.

Gambhir, who captained KKR to IPL victories in 2012 and 2014, highlighted the league's competitiveness. He pointed out that the difference in quality between the teams ranked first and tenth is minimal. 

"There isn't much difference between the team that finished No.1 and the team that finished No.10. If there's a five-match series between the two teams, I won't be surprised if the No.10 team beats the No.1 team comfortably. That's why the IPL is the toughest league in the world and at the level of any T20 World Cup. We all get the same purse and all teams formed are good," Gambhir told a sports page.

When questioned about the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier despite their six-match winning streak, Gambhir attributed the outcome to the intensity of play. 

"Even when I was the captain, I had said that momentum is a word that we just use too much. What matters is with what intensity do you take the field on the day. The team that plays fearlessly and with courage is the one that ends up with the advantage because neither the ball nor the bat knows the momentum," he further added.

Looking ahead to the IPL 2024 final, where KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gambhir praised the balance of the Pat Cummins-led side. He noted that SRH’s bowling lineup, featuring talents like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, and Natarajan, is as formidable as their batting. 

"They do have quality bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, and Natarajan. There has been a lot of talk about their batting because they have made such huge scores. But their bowling is equally destructive. You cannot have a good IPL season with only one department firing," he concluded.