England’s opener Phil Salt has shared the secret behind his great performances in IPL 2024. He credited Kolkata Knight Riders’ former coach and India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir for his impressive season.
Phil Salt who was named Men’s T20I Batter of the Year at the CEAT Cricket Awards 2024, said that much of his success in India comes from Gambhir’s valuable guidance at KKR.
The 27-year-old’s journey in IPL 2024 has been amazing, calling it a key moment in his career. Known for his intense competitive spirit and dedication, Gambhir’s influence has clearly shaped Salt into a strong player on the international stage.
Salt mentioned that working closely with Gambhir was a game-changer for him. The former KKR mentor’s drive for excellence and attention to detail made a lasting impact on Salt.
He was especially inspired by Gambhir’s mix of smart strategy and fierce competition, which pushed him to reach his limits and seek those small improvements that can make a big difference in crucial games.
Salt played a crucial role in KKR’s championship win this year, scoring 435 runs in 12 matches with an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 182.01. However, he had to leave the KKR team later in the IPL 2024 for commitments with England.
Describing Gambhir, Salt said at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2024, “Brilliant experience doesn’t get any better than you know, coming in and winning the IPL first and foremost. I think GG is no stranger to Indian cricket fans and cricket fans around the world. He is you know, his playing record speaks for itself and what I found as a player. Just listening to him in his sort of mentoring role.”
Salt also talked about his time under KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit during IPL 2024. Despite rumors about foreign players being unhappy with Pandit’s strict coaching style, Salt had a different experience and praised his coach.
