IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir criticises Virat Kohli's captaincy after RCB's huge loss against KXIP

After Royal Challengers Bangalore’s terrible defeat by 97 runs in the hand of Kings XI Punjab, the franchise in inviting criticism from all corners of the world. Virat Kohli’s captaincy also came under a lot of questions as he dropped dangerous Rahul twice and then displayed a poor show with the bat.

In the same light, former Indian captain Gautam Gambhir has slammed Kohli for his decision making and especially handing the last over to Shivam Dube. Dube conceded 23 runs in the last over, and Punjab went on to post a huge 206/3 on board.

The all-rounder conceded only 10 runs in his two overs earlier, but a more experienced man could have done the job better for Bangalore. As per Gambhir, RCB has options in their squad, yet Kohli chose to go with less experienced Dube.

“I know Shivam Dube bowled really well in his first two overs. Yes, you would be tempted to give him a third over, but not the last over. When KL Rahul is already set and batting on 100+, you are walking on the edge, because that can happen… I would have Navdeep Saini or Dale Steyn bowling the last over, even though Steyn is not the best death bowler. But I would have given the last over to the best bowler of the team,” said Gambhir in ESPNCricinfo’s show ‘T20 Time Out’.

Probably, Virat could have used Umesh Yadav: Gautam Gambhir

Kohli handed over the ball to Dube when Punjab was standing at 183, and Rahul was on 116. But as soon as the over began, Rahul hit him for three big shots, and the team’s total breached the 200-run mark.

Rahul’s innings became the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history. Gambhir added that he would have still given the ball to Umesh Yadav despite his dismal show earlier in the game, but Dube was a totally wrong choice.

You (Virat Kohli) finished off Navdeep Saini in the 17th over. Probably, you could have used Umesh Yadav, who did not have the best of the days. But Shivam Dube bowling the last over was a bad calculation,” concluded Gambhir.