‘He’s always looking for those one per cent’- Phil Salt praises Gautam Gambhir and shares his finest advice

Recently, Phil Salt, a star batter for England, came forth to laud former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, saying that it was Gambhir’s mentoring that enabled Salt to perform well in Indian conditions during the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the IPL 2024, Salt played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, coached by Gambhir. In 2024, the team went on to win their third IPL championship.

Speaking about his time spent learning from Gambhir, Phil Salt took front stage and shared the finest advise the former India opener gave him that improved his performance in the Indian environment.

Salt praised Gautam Gambhir, saying he could identify to his viewpoints and that he was a great competitor. He also talked about how much he enjoyed working with Gambhir during the IPL.

“What a rival. When I looked at it that way, I could truly connect with him. He is constantly searching for that extra 1% that will enable each player to reach their potential and help the team win. I therefore enjoyed working for him. “A competitor, you know, would be one word,” Salt remarked during an awards ceremony.

“I believe that the most important piece of advise I received from GG was to play the game seriously, particularly in India. I know you’re going to score runs for us, but I want you to score most of your runs between overs ten and twenty at Eden Gardens, he remarked, sitting me down as soon as I finished the first training session,” he continued.

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It is noteworthy that Phil Salt quit the IPL before the playoffs because of national obligations, but in the 12 games he participated in, Salt averaged 39.55 and scored 435 runs at a strike rate of 182. His prolific batting was essential to KKR winning the championship and taking back their kingdom.