IPL 2018: Gautam Gambhir Hints Rift In DD, Says 'Was Always Available For Selection In Playing XI'

IPL 2018: Former Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir reveals that it was not his decision to bow out of the playing XI

Arun Rawal
May 22, 2018

Delhi Daredevils’ (DD) former skipper Gautam Gambhir stepped down from the captaincy after team’s dismal show in the first six matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. Gambhir made way for 23-year-old Shreyas Iyer to lead the side. After knocking out Mumbai Indians (MI), Iyer said that it was Gambhir’s decision to sit out of the playing XI. In the post-match press conference, DD’s head coach Ricky Ponting too shared similar thoughts.

He said, “After resigning from the captaincy, it was Gambhir’s decision to sit out of the playing XI,”. Ponting also defended his decision to persist with Glenn Maxwell despite horrible show with the bat.

The 36-year-old did not get to play in a single match after stepping down. He had scored only 85 runs in 5 innings but was not given a chance despite top order’s inconsistency and Maxwell’s failure in the middle order.

Here’s what Gambhir said in an interview with ABP News, falsifying the statements of DD skipper and coach.

“I never dropped myself from the playing XI. If that was the case, then I would’ve announced the retirement as well. A lot of cricket is still left in me. The team was losing matches continuously under my leadership and I resigned taking the whole responsibility for the same. But I never rejected from playing in the side and the team management and Ricky Ponting is also aware of this fact.”

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Here’s what the Delhi player had to say about his future plans and whether he would retire ahead of next IPL season or not:

“I am not retiring right now. The next season of IPL is still a year away and if I do well in the first-class season, then I will play next year as well.”

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DD put up another disappointing show after failing to qualify for the playoffs and ended up on the bottom of the points table. With such developments, it is highly unlikely that Gambhir will play for DD in the next season.