Time To Change Captaincy, Feels Gautam Gambhir After RCB's IPL 2020 Exit

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) exited IPL 2020 after a six-wicket loss to SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator on Friday. After RCB's defeat, former India opener Gautam Gambhir said that Kohli, as a skipper, needs to take accountability for team's failure to deliver the silverware. Gambhir opined that there is no other franchise that would have persisted with the same skipper who has failed to win even a single title in eight years. Speaking at ESPNcricinfo's show T20 Time Out after RCB's disappointing loss, Gambhir said that Kohli, as a leader, should put his hands up and take responsibility for the team's defeat.

 "100%, because the problem is about accountability. Eight years into the tournament (without a trophy), eight years is a long time. Tell me any other captain...forget about captain, tell me any other player who would have got eight years and wouldn't have won the title and would have still continued with it. So, it has to be accountability. A captain needs to take accountability," said Gambhir, when asked if he would change the captaincy if he was at the helm of RCB.

"It's not only about one year, it's not only about this. I have nothing against Virat Kohli but somewhere down the line, he needs to put his hand up and say, 'yes, I am responsible. I am accountable'," he added.

RCB's batting unit put on a dismal show in the Eliminator against SRH and could only score 131/7 in 20 overs in the first inning. Apart from AB de Villiers, who scored a fighting half-century, and Aaron Finch, no other RCB batsman could hold fort long enough to make an impact on the game.

Riding on Kane Williamson's gritty half-century, SRH chased down the total in the final over and RCB's dream of laying hands on the elusive IPL trophy came to yet another disappointing end as they exited the tournament with five straight losses.

Topics mentioned in this article

Royal Challengers Bangalore Sunrisers Hyderabad Virat Kohli Gautam Gambhir IPL 2020 Cricket