Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling coach Wasim Akram has shed light on an intriguing aspect of Gautam Gambhir’s superstitions during their IPL title-winning campaigns in 2012 and 2014. Akram revealed that the team management often encountered difficulties in finding hotel rooms for Gambhir due to his insistence on incorporating the number 9 into his room numbers.
According to Akram, Gambhir harbored a superstition regarding the number 9 and preferred to have it associated with his hotel room numbers in some capacity. This peculiar quirk led to challenges for the team management in accommodating Gambhir’s preferences, as he sought room numbers like 45 or 36 that included the number 9.
The revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into Gambhir’s superstitious beliefs and rituals during his tenure with KKR. While superstitions are commonplace in sports, Gambhir’s insistence on incorporating the number 9 into his hotel room numbers adds a unique twist to his pre-match routines and preparations.
Akram’s disclosure hints at the lengths to which athletes may go to maintain their routines and seek perceived advantages, however unconventional they may seem to outsiders. Gambhir’s adherence to superstitions underscores the psychological aspect of sports and the importance of mental preparation in achieving peak performance on the field.
As fans reminisce about KKR’s past glories and the role played by Gambhir in leading the team to IPL success, Akram’s revelation adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Gambhir’s superstitions, though kept under wraps during his playing days, now emerge as an intriguing aspect of his persona, contributing to the folklore surrounding the legendary cricketer.