Indian footballer comments on Gautam Gambhir stepping down from captaincy

It came as an utter shock to fans and pundits alike when Gautam Gambhir, the former captain of Delhi Daredevils announced his decision to step down from the helm. However, it has been a blessing in disguise to rookie cricketer Shreyas Iyer, paving the way for him to take charge of the captaincy reigns.

Gambhir’s decision came after the team faced a series of defeats this season under his leadership. But this is not the first time a captain has given up his role mid-season. For instance, Rohit Sharma took over the reins mid-season of Mumbai Indians from Ricky Pointing or when RCB’s Daniel Vettori turned to Virat Kohli to helm the team.

Speaking on the same lines, Indian footballer Collin Abranches said, “When you lose there is a lot of pressure to get results and qualify for the semi-finals. In the end, I think he must have taken a decision that would help his mind, and get the best out of his game. When it comes to sports, everyone is a captain. It’s just that you need a leader and Gautam Gambhir was one such leader. I think the stress and pressure get to you,” he was quoted by Deccan Chronicle.

Abranches added, “The same thing happened with Sachin Tendulkar too. Both are softer, but on the other hand look at Dhoni, he is not broken easily. You will never see him getting worked up or shattered. Such decisions are also taken for more personal reasons.”

Delhi’s performance under Gambhir

The team was in a state of flux after losing 5 out of 6 matches and were languishing at the bottom of the table. They were in a situation now where they needed to win at least 7 out of their remaining 8 games of the season to qualify for the playoffs.

Gautam himself had a poor outing with the willow, managing only a solitary half century. He has accumulated only 85 runs in 6 outings this season and failed to lead his team from the front.

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