MyKhel had a chance to catch up with one of GT20 Canada League's current stars, Jeremy Gordon. The veteran bowler played for Canada in the T20 World Cup 2024 and has been a winner of the tournament with his current team Vancouver Knights. In the chat, Gordon opens up on his cricketing journey, the impact of GT20, a surreal experience with Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah and many more things. Here is an extract of the exclusive interview- On the T20 World Cup Experience Jeremy Gordon played the opening match against USA and says it was a fantastic experience for the team, who made their first appearance in the T20 World Cup. "It was a surreal experience, to be honest. To be competing at that level against some of the best cricketers in the world. The likes of India, Pakistan, Ireland and it was again a magnificent experience for not just myself our entire team and Canada as a nation." How the Cricket Started Jeremy plays for Canada, but he is originally a Guyanese. Born in the Northern tip of South America, the pacer played for Guyana in the youth level before migration to Canada. And on his cricketing journey, the pacer says his mother was the biggest force. "My mom uh got me into cricket. I was born in Guyana so I got into the sport. I started off as a batter, but I was taller than most of my teammates. So they encouraged me to start bowling. And to be honest, the rest is history because once I started bowling. I noticed I started doing pretty well and I took a liking to it. I played for Guyana under-15, under-19 and then I played for the national senior team before migrating to Canada." On the Impact of GT20 in Canada Cricket Although Canada cricket has been for a long time, the GT20 has welcomed a new spring. Jeremy Gordon says the buzz among the youth is massive which has come through the league. And personally, it has hugely helped the local players, who have been rubbing shoulders with some of the international stars. "Being able to play with some of the best players in the world, play with or against, has definitely helped us skill-wise and confidence. We have learned a lot of things in the dressing room - how to play under pressure. We actually learned things about our own game because most of us ask questions. I personally would ask the different questions to Tim Southee or Mitchell McClenaghan just to pick their brains," he says. "Having played with some of the best in the world that we believe that we can compete at that level against some of the best in the world. So, again, a big thanks to GT20 for basically helping us lift our standards and lift our game," Gordon emphasizes. The Idols Being a Caribbean by birth, Gordon grew up idolizing Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, and says he made his action a mix of both of the West Indies legends. "For me it was two it was Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose so essentially I like them both so if you look at my action it's a mixture of both of them. I couldn't figure which one I liked more so it's it became a mixture of both. Just the impact again they had in the game and that combination was a deadly combination," says Gordon. Vancouver Knights Experience The Canada pacer is part of the Vancouver Knights, which won the GT20 in its inaugural season. Ahead of the new season, Gordon says they have a balanced squad and are the best team in the tournament's history. "I'm excited to be playing with Mohamed Amir, who I, again, I think is one of the legends of the game. Just being able to be in a dressing room with him to kind of pick his brain in terms of, the different deliveries that he bowls and just to get his mindset to be playing again with Babar Azam," Gordon says. Incidentally, the Pakistan duo is yet to get NOC from PCB to take part in the tournament. Personal Goals Gordon has a personal sight, which is to contribute more with the bat. But the player is happy to contribute any means possible. "I bowl with the new ball and I bowl in the depth. So for me with the new ball, it's just to be impactful, to continue to be impactful, whether it's to, restrict scoring as much as possible and get some wickets and support whoever's bowling with me at the other end and in the depth. I've been working on my batting hopefully I could contribute as well with the bat so my goal is to just to contribute to the team's success." The Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah meet India was set to play Canada in the group stages of the T20 World Cup but the match was abandoned due to a hurricane in Miami. Despite no play, Gordon reveals he had a chance to meet with two Indian greats- Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. I spoke to Virat, I spoke to Bumrah. It was just basically me just sharing my admiration and appreciation. It wasn't anything in-depth really about cricket. I think some of the other guys are waiting just to chat with them so it was just a quick 'I admire you, I think you're one of the best in the game' chat. That was my view to basically both of them and they're like phenomenal. Bumrah is such class while Kohli, as you know, is just a master," Gordon concluded.