The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kirsten’s success mantra for Gambhir

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Kirsten’s success mantra for Gambhir

New Delhi: A more relaxed approach to batting has been the success mantra for the Indian opener Gautam Gambhir who on Friday acknowledged that coach Gary Kirsten played a vital role in making 2008 the “best year” of his cricketing career. The diminutive Gambhir, who had a phenomenal year aggregating 1,134 runs from eight Tests at an average of 70.87, said Kirsten had helped him understand his game better.

“I was too hard on myself. I wasn’t too relaxed and it used to tie me up in knots on many occasions. Gary helped me be at ease with myself. I now take it as it comes. Gary has helped me understand my game a lot better,” Gambhir said in an interview.

“It was the best year of my cricketing career. When the year began, I never thought it’d turn out to be like that,” he added. The 27-year-old Gambhir is not prepared to rest on his laurels and promised to maintain his consistency in the coming years. “Consistency will be my goal. It’s not as if I have any specific target in mind. However, I am aware I need to keep working on my batting,” said Gambhir. — PTI

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