New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Venkatesh Iyer has offered an insight into Gautam Gambhir’s influence on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dressing room during their successful IPL 2024 campaign, recalling how the former mentor created an atmosphere of competition, readiness and high expectations.
Speaking on a podcast with former India opener Aakash Chopra, Iyer described a dressing room in which several batters were ready to take the field from the opening overs. According to him, Gambhir ensured that players remained prepared because their opportunity could arrive at any moment.
Iyer famously compared the waiting batters to a group of “lions ready to go”. The description captured the competitive spirit Gambhir encouraged during KKR’s title-winning season.
The all-rounder, who has since moved from KKR to RCB, also explained how Gambhir made players feel important even when their batting positions or responsibilities changed. His account offers a glimpse into the team culture behind KKR’s third IPL championship.
KKR batters stayed ready from the second over
Iyer recalled how the team’s preparation created constant competition among the batters. While Sunil Narine and Phil Salt opened the innings, several other players were already padded up and waiting for their turn.
He named Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, himself, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Andre Russell among those preparing to bat.
“Sunil Narine and Phil Salt are opening, Angkrish Raghuvanshi is padded up, Shreyas Iyer is padded up, Nitish Rana is padded up, I’m padded up, Rinku Singh is padded up, Ramandeep Singh is padded up, Andre Russell is padded up from the second over,” Venkatesh recalled.
He said the sight of so many players waiting for an opportunity reminded him of lions eager to be unleashed.
“There was this competition; anyone could go in at any moment, boss. We stayed ready, like literally,” Iyer explained.
The arrangement reflected the uncertainty of T20 cricket, where a team’s batting order can change according to the match situation. Gambhir wanted players to be ready for different combinations rather than assume that their position in the usual order was guaranteed.
Gambhir demanded excellence from every player
Iyer said Gambhir established clear expectations within the dressing room. Players were encouraged to take responsibility for the team’s performance and look for ways to improve, rather than focus only on their individual contributions.
The former KKR mentor also encouraged senior players to share honest opinions. Iyer recalled conversations with Gambhir in the gym, where discussions often turned towards the team’s overall improvement.
“He would tell me that you are a senior player in the team. You have to think about how the team can improve. You have to be brave enough to give your feedback, tell us what you feel and point out what can be done better,” Iyer recalled.
That approach gave players a sense of responsibility beyond their individual roles. They were expected to contribute ideas, communicate openly and remain involved in the team’s progress.
For Gambhir, according to Iyer’s account, maintaining high standards was not limited to the players in the starting XI. Everyone in the squad had a responsibility to stay prepared and make an impact whenever an opportunity arrived.
Iyer explains why batting positions did not define a player’s value
One of the most revealing parts of Iyer’s account concerned his own experience during the 2024 season.
He recalled scoring a half-century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru before being pushed down to No. 8 in the following match. On that occasion, he got an opportunity to face only the final delivery of the innings.
Such a change could have frustrated a batter who had recently scored a half-century. However, Iyer said Gambhir explained the larger team perspective instead of allowing the situation to become a personal disappointment.
The message was that a player’s importance could not be measured by the number of deliveries faced or the position occupied in the batting order.
Gambhir highlighted how different players could win matches in different ways. Iyer could produce a substantial innings, Narine could score a rapid 90, while Ramandeep Singh could change a game with a brief but impactful contribution.
The team needed all those possibilities. Players therefore had to accept changing responsibilities and remain ready to deliver when called upon.
This flexibility was particularly valuable in T20 cricket, where match-ups, bowling changes and the required scoring rate can influence batting decisions.
Gambhir’s influence during KKR’s IPL 2024 title campaign
Gambhir returned to KKR as mentor ahead of the 2024 season after previously captaining the franchise to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
His return coincided with a memorable campaign in which KKR emerged as champions for the third time. Under captain Shreyas Iyer, the team defeated SunRisers Hyderabad in the final to secure the trophy.
The campaign featured contributions from several members of the batting line-up, with players adapting to different situations. Narine and Salt provided an aggressive opening combination, while the middle order and lower order offered further options.
Iyer’s recollections suggest that Gambhir’s contribution extended beyond match tactics. He sought to create a dressing-room environment in which players understood their responsibilities, accepted changes and remained confident about their ability to influence a game.
For a tournament as demanding as the IPL, that collective readiness can be an important advantage.
Venkatesh Iyer’s move to RCB
Iyer’s comments are also notable because he is now associated with RCB after his stint with Kolkata. Moving to a new franchise meant adapting to a different team environment, but his memories of the 2024 KKR campaign remain an important part of his IPL journey.
His account provides a player’s perspective on why Gambhir’s KKR legacy continues to attract attention. The emphasis on preparation, honest feedback and collective responsibility helped shape a group in which several batters were ready to take charge.
The phrase “lions ready to go” captures the atmosphere Iyer remembers: a squad eager to contribute, with every player prepared for an opportunity.
Gambhir’s time at KKR may have ended before he took charge of the Indian men’s team, but Iyer’s recollections show how the standards he established continued to define the franchise’s memorable 2024 title-winning campaign.