Gareth Southgate reminisces about Kapil Dev-Sunil Gavaskar's cricket era, confesses affection for the sport: "I used to watch..."
Casual Chat: Gareth Southgate's Cricket Craze
Diving into the Past and Present of Cricket with Gareth Southgate 🏏💪
Former England football team boss Gareth Southgate is giving us a glimpse into his other passion - cricket! He recently jetted off to India to catch some Rajasthan Royals action in the IPL, showing off his Royals' T-shirt and dugout seat. But it's not his first runaround with India's premier cricket tournament, as he shared memories of watching Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar in action during his youth.
"Man, when Wembley's crowd gets a bit subdued, I've turned to cricket time and time again," Southgate revealed in an Instagram post from IPL and Rajasthan Royals. "I've been a cricket fan from way back—I'd sit hours watching Test matches. I mean, we're talking about Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar here, so it was a pretty damn spectacular era!" he added.
The ever-curious Southgate can't get enough of sliding down the rabbit hole of learning across sports, and now he's reaping the benefits of that enthusiasm! England's Test cricket captain Ben Stokes caught up with the football team last year, and Southgate is a firm believer in the knowledge exchange between sports.
"Ben Stokes dropped by last year, and you wouldn't believe the stuff we picked up from him and other coaches. It's all about shared strategies and expertise, man, and that's what keeps me going," he concluded.
- Cricket Fandom
- Kapil Dev
- Sunil Gavaskar
- Rajasthan Royals
- IPL
- Ben Stokes
ICYMI: Stokes' Visit to the England Football Team 🏎🏴
In the lead-up to the disheartening Euros 2024 final loss against Spain, Ben Stokes made a special appearance, chatting with the England football team. In the shadow of the disappointing defeat, Southgate had nothing but kind words for the cricket superstar and the inspiration he brought to the table.
"Ben Stokes dropped by last year, and you wouldn't believe the stuff we picked up from him and other coaches," Southgate shared in an interview. "He's the real deal—inspiring, knowledgeable, and a great person. He's got that mindset that any coach aspires to instill in their team."
- England Football Team
- Euros 2024
- Ben Stokes
"Gareth Southgate, a football enthusiast, also holds a deep affection for cricket, reminiscing about watching cricket legends like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar during his youth."
"Ben Stokes, not just a cricket star, but also an influential figure, shared insights with the England football team during a visit last year, contributing to a knowledge exchange between sports."
