Gautam Gambhir as Delhi Daredevils captain Yes! you hear it right. Delhi Daredevils have got back their local city boy Gautam Gambhir all ready to lead them in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. A Knight for seven years; Gambhir had brought a lot of cheer for the people of the ‘City of Joy’. Now its a different aspect in his IPL career in representing the team he started playing for back in 2008.
Delhi have got one of the most successful skippers of IPL history and with the consistency he brings to the table, the franchise will be looking to get the best out of him in creating a solid base. In the Bengaluru auction earlier this year the side had bought Gambhir for Rs 2.8 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders achieved a lot of consistency in the past few years under Gambhir and although he is unlikely to be with the Daredevils for long, he will be able to bring a lot of factors in place in a short period of time. In one way, it will be a new challenge for Delhi’s new skipper to get the team firing from all cylinders.
That moment when! 😍#DilDilli #DilliKaKaptaan pic.twitter.com/FzKgKeMr7r
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 7, 2018
After being unveiled as the side’s new skipper, Gambhir claimed it is an huge honour for him to lead the side and is confident on getting the players to do well. “It is a huge honour to once again captain DD. To get this responsibility is a way for me to give back to the sport in the city. I firmly believe that with the players currently involved we have the makings of a very good side,” said the former KKR player.
Delhi will be getting consistency atop
In the past seven years for KKR, Gambhir’s bat talked every season. Now it seems interesting to watch gautam gambhir as delhi daredevils captain from providing a platform right from the start, Gambhir showed his appetite for runs and sensibility. His record in the T20 League speaks volumes of a character that makes batting look so easy and pleasing to watch.
The veteran player has been successful in IPL with 4,132 runs in 148 matches. He has a whopping 35 fifties under his belt in the past 10 seasons. With 500+ runs in three different IPL seasons, Gambhir made the opposition sweat. Last term, he amassed 498 runs for KKR at an average of 41.50. Numbers don’t lie! Do they?
A born leader!
The 36-year-old thrived in the role as a skipper and helped KKR be very successful as a franchise. The southpaw backs his instincts and is very attacking in nature. Over the years, he has been a very aggressive captain and got the team perform at their best.
He has always cited on the fact that, “A captain is as good as the team.” The best part about his leadership skills is that he loves to take responsibilities as a player and sets an example for the side. A lot like Virat Kohli in this manner.
He thrived at KKR
After being bought by KKR in 2011 for a record sum, he helped the team to bag two titles in 2012 and 2014 respectively. In 2012, he smashed 590 runs in a stellar campaign that saw him get success both as a team and individually. What he did best at KKR was to make them a fearful unit after leading the side to five play-offs in a period of seven years.
What lies ahead for Daredevils
With former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting selected as their head coach earlier, Delhi had already struck the right chords. By getting Gambhir and making him their leader, they have set out a severe warning to the rest of the franchises. Delhi means to do business this term.
Delhi have assembled a productive squad this season and with the knowledge the players will be earning under the two stalwarts, it will be a huge factor. The former KKR skipper will need to find the right balance like every other side and push his players to reach their maximum potential.Delhi have been very inconsistent over the years and he needs to arrest that slide.
Daredevils will kickstart their IPL campaign with a game versus Kings XI Punjab at Feroz Shah Kotla on April 8.