Gautam Gambhir believes that Royal Challengers Bangalore need to look beyond Virat Kohli as skipper after RCB were eliminated from IPL 2020 by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore endured yet another season of frustration and disappointment in the Indian Premier League as their wait for the trophy extended into 2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore crashed out of IPL 2020 after they suffered a six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad with just two balls to spare. Following the loss, there has been plenty of scrutiny on Virat Kohli’s captaincy, with some former India cricketers suggesting that Virat Kohli should be replaced as captain. Ever since Virat Kohli took over as RCB captain in 2013, the team has made it to three playoffs but on the other hand, they have finished at the bottom of the table in two out of the last three editions.
Having been at the helm for eight years, Royal Challengers Bangalore continue to struggle and their trophy cabinet remains empty. Even in IPL 2020, after a strong start by Royal Challengers Bangalore, they lost three consecutive games heading into the playoffs and they only managed to scrap through as their margin of defeat against Delhi Capitals was not high and because the other teams stumbled at crucial times.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Gautam Gambhir, who was Virat Kohli’s India team-mate and who also clashed with him on one occasion in the IPL, states that Royal Challengers Bangalore need to look beyond Virat Kohli and his captaincy if they are to reap success.
“100 percent, 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. 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',” Gambhir said.
The left-hander pointed to R Ashwin’s example who was sacked by Kings XI Punjab after two years without a trophy. The likes of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma have made their sides into champions.
Not deserved a place in playoff
Gambhir also said that Royal Challengers Bangalore were the least deserving side to enter the playoffs. The left-hander also stated that RCB’s season would have been even worse had AB de Villiers not performed. The South African legend smashed 454 runs at a strike-rate of 159. Gambhir also said that Navdeep Saini’s spell against Mumbai Indians is what Royal Challengers Bangalore alive in the race.
“You can keep saying 'we qualified for the playoffs and we deserved to qualify for the playoffs', absolutely not. 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. Imagine if AB would have had a bad season, tell me what would have happened to RCB. He was the one who actually won them two or three games out of seven. I don't think as a unit they've done anything different from what they did last year. It's exactly the same this year as well. Only because you've qualified for the playoffs, just because of one individual's absolute brilliance, it doesn't make you a strong contender to win the IPL,” Gambhir said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Virat Kohli RCB 2020")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}