Gautam Gambhir mentored KKR in IPL 2024 (PC-x.com)
Gautam Gambhir has been at the centre of the limelight since India won its third T20 World Cup title, winning under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. This time, the head coach has hogged all the public eye.
With the 2026 T20 World Cup triumph, Gambhir became the first person to win two ICC trophies as a player and coach, respectively. A lot of winning squad members have credited the head coach for the triumph, and even a former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cricketer has sung praises for Gautam Gambhir.
Players wanted to die for GG, says ex-KKR player
While speaking on the podcast Sycoriaan Talks, Sheldon Jackson, who played a lot of IPL cricket under Gambhir, shared how Gambhir used to fight for players during his stints at KKR. The former wicketkeeper also mentioned that Gautam Gambhir "walked the talk".
"Under Gautam (Gambhir) Bhai, the environment used to be like that every player wanted to die while performing for the team. He wasn't just a captain, he was a leader. He used to walk the talk. He used to demostrate the way first, and then asked us to do the same," Sheldon Jackson said on Sycoriaan Talks' Youtube Channel.
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Jackson further stated that KKR players could have died for Gautam Gambhir on the field.
That's why, for that team, for that person, every player wanted to die on the field if asked for. For his players, he used to fight with anyone. Whether it would be a small player or a megastar, but if he is his player, then no one dared to speak against him," Sheldon Jackson added.
Sheldon Jackson's journey in IPL
Interestingly, the Saurashtra-born Sheldon Jackson was first picked in the IPL by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013, but didn't debut then. After missing out on the next season, KKR picked him for IPL 2015, where he played under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy.
Jackson made his IPL debut in IPL 2017, when Gambhir had parted ways with KKR, before his next stint in IPL 2022. Overall, he could only play 9 matches in the league, where he averaged just over 10 striking at 107.01.
Whereas Gautam Gambhir returned to his beloved Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL 2024, but Jackson wasn't around. However, it was when KKR won its third title, and the first one without Gambhir as the captain, but the mentor.
Sheldon Jackson's life after retirement
Nevertheless, Sheldon Jackson, a veteran cricketer for Saurashtra, retired from Indian cricket in early 2025 with 7283 runs at an average of 45.80, slamming 21 FC tons. He was a part of the Ranji Trophy-winning Saurashtra side in 2019-20. Moreover, he played over 80 games in each of the List-A and T20 formats.
Retired from Indian cricket, Jackson recently played in the Nepal Premier League in late 2025, representing the runners-up, Sudurpaschim Royals. The last time he was seen in action was with the Delhi Warriors in the World Legends T20 2026.
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