RCB never deserved to qualify for the playoffs: Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir didn’t mince any words in saying that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) didn’t deserve to make the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs. Virat Kohli and Co ended fourth in the points table after edging Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by the slenderest of net run rate margins. Both teams ended the league stage with seven wins from 14 matches.

In the Eliminator, on Friday, November 6, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat them by six wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Gambhir was clear cut in saying that the Challengers couldn’t put their best foot forward and were even fortunate in their Super Over win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Dubai.

Sport is all about delivering, says Gautam Gambhir

“RCB actually never deserved to qualify for the playoffs. If you see the last four or five games, and even that one Super Over against Mumbai Indians, they were very fortunate that Navdeep Saini bowled that over brilliantly. Otherwise, they didn’t have a great season. From the batting point of view and the bowling,” Gambhir was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

Gambhir also raised concerns over Virat Kohli’s leadership after the latter failed to win RCB the title after eight years. He feels that the Challengers need to thing beyond Virat as far as captaincy is concerned.

“Eight years is a long time. It’s not that Kohli isn’t experienced. He captains India, he captains whichever team he plays for, but you’ve got to give results, you’ve got to deliver. Sport is all about delivering,” he stated.

Gambhir also came down hard on Virat for opening the batting for only one game. Kohli scored six runs before falling prey to Jason Holder, caught down the leg-side by Shreevats Goswami.

“There was so much talk about Virat Kohli opening the batting, if you wanted to open the batting, you should have done that right from the start of the tournament,” Gambhir added.

After being put in to bat first, RCB could manage only 131 runs in their 20 overs. Barring AB de Villiers, none of the batters could stand out. While defending the score, the Challengers picked up early wickets, but couldn’t maintain the pressure on the SRH batters.