{"id":2748,"date":"2018-04-25T22:42:38","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T17:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/?p=2748"},"modified":"2018-04-25T22:42:38","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T17:12:38","slug":"ipl-2018-what-next-for-gautam-gambhir-and-delhi-daredevils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/ipl-2018-what-next-for-gautam-gambhir-and-delhi-daredevils\/","title":{"rendered":"IPL 2018: What Next For Gautam Gambhir And Delhi Daredevils?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Delhi Daredevils got Gautam Gambhir back at the helm to lead them this season in the Indian Premier League 2018, it looked like a match made in heaven. A Knight for seven years, Gambhir chose his city team Delhi. Six matches into the season, the question arises what next for Gautam Gambhir and Delhi Daredevils? The veteran southpaw stepped down from captaincy owing to poor individual and team performance.
\n‘Double G’ wanted to thrive on the responsibility of leading the side and taking them to newer heights. It promised to be a big affair for Delhi Daredevils who suffered from inconsistency over the years. But this time too, they look awry, despite a fresh look and even Gambhir’s presence could not give them the start they desired.
\n“It was my decision. I haven’t contributed enough to the team. I had to take the responsibility being the leader of the ship. I feel it was the right time,” said the former India player in a press conference. Shreyas Iyer has been handed the reins to lead the team for the remainder of the season.
\nFor a man who has been one of the most successful and consistent skippers in the IPL, what looked like a match in heaven, has now gone sour. One feels for the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper for standing down and signalling time has caught up with him.
\nInterestingly, he has decided to forego his entire Rs 2.8 crore salary while taking responsibility for the team’s disastrous run.
\nSo what all contributed to the demise of Gambhir’s reign at DD? What next for him and Daredevils? Let’s have a look.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

DD and Gambhir could not click together<\/h2>\n

For someone, who thrived in the ‘City of Joy’ and helped the Knights conquer two titles in seven seasons, DD would have hoped he at least gives them something to build upon in the years to come. Gambhir was never the long-term answer here. Rather a quick fix to get some consistency and belief from where they could have taken off in the seasons to come.
\nSix games and the manner in which both the team and Gambhir played showed there wasn’t any fluency in the association that was expected. DD stuttered and so did Gambhir. The zeal and fire that was seen at Kolkata Knight Riders\u00a0was not to be found. In these six games, Gambhir has hit just one half-century and amassed 84 runs in total. Something that was never the story with the Gautam Gambhir.<\/p>\n

Has the call come at the right time?<\/h2>\n

That’s what at least the man in the picture thinks so. Gambhir looked a dejected figure in the DD camp given the performances his team put up that wasn’t up to the mark in all three departments. Only a few individuals like Trent Boult and Rishabh Pant showed the desire and the form. The rest of the big names lacked the consistency and the firepower.<\/p>\n

\n

True, that I\u2019ve stepped down from DD captaincy. Just to clarify it was my call, nothing from the management or coaching staff. I may not be leading from the front but I will be the last man standing for @DelhiDaredevils<\/a>. No individual bigger than d team. Very much a #DilDIlli<\/a><\/p>\n

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 25, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n