"I don't play here as an individual, but for a team called KKR. I am a part of a team which are the defending champions... I don't see IPL as my comeback platform," Gambhir said on Tuesday, the eve of KKR's opening encounter against Delhi Daredevils at Eden Gardens.
The skipper doesn't think there will be extra pressure on the side for being defending champions.
"Being defending champions doesn't mean pressure (on the team), rather it gives you more confidence. We have got the monkey off the back because in the previous four years it was said that KKR were more popular off the field, but after winning the championship, we have proved that we can play good cricket as well," he reasoned. Looking ahead to the sixth edition of the tournament, Gambhir felt the confidence gained from IPL-5 will help the team "play some fearless cricket this time."
The skipper was not ready to talk about any particular individual, but saw the team as a unit. New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum's absence in the first match, thus, doesn't worry him. "We've got a lot of quality in the dressing room to fill in any gap. Now is the time to go out there and step up to the opportunity." Asked about Yusuf Pathan's poor run last season, Gambhir said, "Everyone has to fire, not only he."
The skipper is aware that his trump card, West Indian 'mystery' spinner Sunil Narine, has to be used judiciously. "It's all about strategy and deciding when is the right time to bring on someone. And it's not only about Narine, bowlers like Jacques Kallis and Balaji are all ready for the challenge," Gambhir said.
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