"If the limit is 2 million, go to 2 million. We don’t need anyone else" – How Gambhir convinced KKR owners to buy Sunil Narine in IPL auctions
2014 IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders had a motley group of characters who made up a title winning squad. Led by a determined Gautam Gambhir, KKR won their second IPL title this season, with both their wins coming under him.
KKR had poor first three seasons, finishing 6th, 8th and 6th in group stages in 2008, ‘09 and ‘10 respectively. The team was revamped in 2011, when KKR bought Gambhir for the highest price in IPL auctions’ history, paying $2.4 million for the southpaw.
Having made him the captain, Gambhir says the owners put their full faith in him, allowing him a free reign, uninterrupted from any outside pressure.
In a freewheeling chat with TNN, Gambhir cited an example of how KKR CEO Venky Mysore and co-owner Shahrukh Khan took his advice in the 2012 IPL auctions, and made the then-surprise buy of West Indian Sunil Narine for $700,000, an unexpected sum for someone who wasn’t well known and had played only 3 international matches.
Gambhir says the owners were completely clueless about Narine, but he made it clear that he wanted the West Indian mystery spinner in the side. The opener was touring Australia with Indian cricket team when the KKR CEO called him. Here’s how the conversation went, according to Gambhir:
Venky: “Tomorrow is the auction, so who do you think we should go for?”
Gambhir: “Let's go for Sunil Narine.”
Venky: “So who's this guy?”
Gambhir: “Just remember the name, forget about who's this guy. Just remember him.”
Mysore talked with others about this rather odd request from his skipper, and this time it was Shahrukh who called Gambhir, who was with his wife Natasha in a mall at that time.
Shahrukh: “Should we go for someone else? You're saying that we need to go with Sunil Narine?”
Gambhir: “Till what budget do you want to go in the auction? How much is the limit?”
Shahrukh: “Two million. But who is this guy? Are you sure you want him?”
Gambhir: “Yes. And if the limit is two million, go to two million. We don't need anyone else.”
Shahrukh: “If you want him, we'll get him.”
Gambhir’s masterstroke, and owners’ total faith in him paid off. Narine’s mystery spin has been in the focal point around which KKR have emerged from the ashes, and scripted history twice in 3 years.
It was a big move back then. Narine, with a base price of $50,000, was bought for $700,000 by KKR. He had been the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the 2011 Champions League T20, but with an international experience of just 3 matches, was still an unknown entity. Gambhir however, had faced Narine in 2 matches in a home series against West Indies, and was determined to have him in KKR.
“I think neither Shah Rukh nor our CEO knew who he was because he had only played one game for West Indies before that. And when he got picked, he himself was surprised,” Gambhir says about the Narine move.
Nobody expected Narine to be such a success back then, but all it took is an eye for talent, and a determined captain to change everything.