Wasim Akram: Gambhir is a captaincy material

KKR bowling Coach Wasim Akram feels that Indian opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir is a captaincy material. Akram feels that Gambhir has leadership skills are at par with those of MS Dhoni and he will be future skipper of India. 

Wasim Akram hints Gambhir is future Indian skipper

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, was impressed with the way Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season of IPL. Akram added that he has looked and worked with Gautam Gambhir as the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and I have no doubts in saying that Gambhir is a world class cricketer. He even quoted that Gambhir is a fighter and very committed individual, he is at par with Mahendra Singh Dhoni when it comes to leadership and man-management.

The left hand pacer, who captained Pakistan in 25 Tests and 109 ODIs, said Gambhir has almost recovered from his head injury that he sustained during India's disastrous tour of England and could soon be playing. Akram added that Gambhir is a strong boy but concussion after the head injury took a toll on him. Gambhir suffered a head injury during the Oval Test in London while trying to take a high catch off Kevin Pietersen's bat.

That injury sidelined Gambhir from the lone Twenty20 International and the ODI series against England. He also missed the two qualifying matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League Twenty20. However, KKR has qualified for the Champions League Twenty20 main tournament for the first time even after losing their qualifying round match to Somerset.

Gautam Gambhir skips CL T20 qualifiers

Gautam Gambhir, the skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders unlikely will be taking the field in the Champions League Qualifiers for the team owned by Shah Rukh Khan. Gautam has not completely recovered from the injury and in regard Kallis will be taking the skipper’s role. Gambhir has suffered a mild concussion while attempting to take a catch during the 4th Test against England at the Oval and has missed out the entire ongoing one-day series against England.

Injury rules Gambhir out of CL T20 qualifiers

On the other hand, the qualifiers will start on 19th of September and will be shut down on 21st, featuring 6 teams. Apart from KKR, Auckland Aces, Leicestershire, Ruhuna Rhinos, Somerset and Trinidad and Tobago joins the qualifying phase with 3 teams going through to the main event.

However, Dav Whatmore, the coach of the KKR is confident on the team that they will keep their full efforts to go forward in absence of Gautam. He added that Kallis was terrific and came up with some good ideas in leading the team forward. Apart from this speaking about the form of India, he said that the fans love the game but unfortunately Team India could not do well in the Test series in England and confident they will surely hit back.

Yusuf Pathan also feels that a good performance in the Champions League T20 could have chances to make a comeback into the Indian Team. Yusuf said that Irfan is also striving hard to do well and also hopes that they would play together soon.