IPL 2020: Gautam Gambhir points out the biggest difference between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

With the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League just a few days away, former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir pointed out the major difference between the captaincy style of Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni and Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. Gambhir also opined on the weaknesses of the RCB squad and how some patience and trust from the team management and captain can help the team in overcoming its shortcomings.

The cricketer-turned-politician reckoned that since Virat feels good about the overall squad, he trusts his players and gives them at least 6-7 matches before outcasting them from the playing XI. Gambhir feels that the tendency of not sticking to a particular playing XI has hampered the performance of the team over the years.

“What Virat Kohli has said, when you are happy with your squad as a captain, you would have already planned which playing XI you want to play. If you are satisfied, then the calmness also comes along. Because there are times that you do not come to know your best XI in the entire tournament and that is why you make a lot of changes,” Gambhir said during the latest episode of Star Sports’ Cricket Connected.

“The biggest difference between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni is that Dhoni persists with his players for 6-7 matches. If you see RCB’s trend, they make changes very quickly because they have a doubt that their Playing XI does not have a proper balance,” he added.

I still feel that RCB look a little batting-heavy: Gautam Gambhir

Urging the current Indian captain to persist with his playing XI for a good period of time, Gambhir said that players perform better when they not are not under scanner or aren’t constantly worried about their spot in the team.

Gambhir’s comments come after Virat Kohli said RCB’s current outfit is their ‘most-balanced’ since the 2016 campaign wherein the side reached the final before losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“So I would want to see from RCB that even if the start is not good, they should persist with their playing XI and give them 6-7 matches. Because then only the players will give you performances and not if you give one or two matches.

If they start with Moeen Ali, they should give him 6-7 matches. If he doesn’t perform in the beginning, they should not get in another player. So if Virat Kohli has a calmness in his mind that this is the most balanced squad, the important thing will be how they perform and how much he persists with these players,” the 38-year-old asserted.

Analyzing the RCB’s squad for this year, the former KKR captain stated that the team still looks a little batting-heavy but their bowlers can put up a good show as they will not be playing in the flat pitches of Chinnaswamy Stadium anymore. Bigger grounds can benefit the bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini and they can help the team tackle their death bowling issues.

“I still feel that RCB look a little batting-heavy. But one thing that you will see a little different is that the bowlers will be happy because they will not have to play 7 matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. You will be playing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which probably have bigger grounds, wickets are not as flat as Chinnaswamy.

It is always difficult to judge the bowlers from Chinnaswamy’s point of view. India’s smallest ground and the flattest wicket is in Chinnaswamy, so bowlers will be happier and you might see a better performance from bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini,” concluded Gambhir.