One man doesn’t win the IPL, says Stephen Fleming on Gautam Gambhir's dig at Virat Kohli

Former Indian cricketer and Kolkata Knight Riders captain, Gautam Gambhir’s name is all over the news currently due to several reasons. Primarily because it got revealed, on Friday, that the former opening batsman will now compete in the elections, from South Delhi, with a BJP ticket. The other reason is, of course, his recent jibe at the Indian captain Virat Kohli ahead of the IPL 2019.

Gambhir, who led the Kolkata-based franchise to win two Indian Premier League trophies, in 2012 and 2014, recently said that Virat has been “lucky” to have survived as captain of the RCB. The 30-year-old, who has been the skipper of the Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2011, has never led the franchise to even a single championship title.

The Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, however, has a different opinion regarding the result-oriented franchise demands of the Indian T20 league. “One man doesn’t win the IPL. It’s a tough competition to win. It’s getting tougher because teams are a lot smarter. Players are conditioned to playing in the IPL. Coaches and managers are getting shrewd in how they buy and put together teams,” Fleming was quoted as saying on TOI.

Fleming praises Virat Kohli

“So, just because you’re probably the best batter in the world, probably one of the best players in the world, it doesn’t mean he’s going to have success in the IPL. There’s a number of things that go towards it. One thing I do know is that when there’s a challenge put in front of him, he meets it,” said the coach of the defending champions.

On the eve of the series-opener match between the RCB and CSK, Fleming’s showcased his support for Kohli and added that retaining the trophy CSK won last year will be very difficult. 

“His expectation with this team will be to give it a good run and I’m sure, as most other franchises will be wanting. Winning competitions is a by-product of how you lead your team so there’s a challenge there. But as I say they’re really looking (like) a good team. Most teams on paper are outstanding so we have got our work cut out to win it again, we will be giving it a good shot as well,” he added.

Here is the RCB squad for IPL 2019:

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