Soon after he stepped down as the captain of the Delhi Daredevils, Gautam Gambhir, sources say, has decided to forego his entire salary, taking full responsibility for the team's dismal performance in the IPL 2018 so far.
The Delhi Daredevils management, however, is yet to take a call on Gambhir's extraordinary gesture.
The Delhi franchise is languishing at the bottom of the points table, having lost five of the six matches so far. Gambhir was signed by the Delhi franchise during the IPL 2018 auction for Rs 2.8 crore. He has scored 85 runs in six matches so far, which includes 55 in the team's first match, against the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The second match against Rajasthan Royals was a washout in Jaipur. Gambhir could only score 15, 8, 3 and 4 runs in the next matches.
There was some speculation that heads may roll after Delhi Daredevils lost their home match—their first this season at the Feroz Shah Kotla—against Kings XI Punjab by four runs on April 23. And the Punjab team was playing without two of its star players—Chris Gayle and Mohit Sharma. Gambhir scored just four runs. Post the match, Delhi Daredevils CEO Hemant Dua, in a series of tweets yesterday, said that "bold decisions are around the corner".
Earlier today, at a press conference, Gambhir announced the decision to relinquish captaincy, saying that he “just couldn't take the pressure”.
Pressure is not new to Gambhir, having led the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles and three play-offs since 2011. However, the 36-year-old southpaw from Delhi admitted that the pressure of seeing the Delhi Daredevils on a losing streak had got to him. “Maybe, I was too desperate to turn things around. At times it can backfire as well because sometimes you are too keen or desperate to do so. It makes you hard on yourself. Maybe, I just couldn't handle the pressure which came with the responsibility and decision. After the last game, I thought maybe that's why I couldn't fire,” said a candid Gambhir.
He admitted that his return to Delhi after parting ways with the KKR was an emotional decision. “Maybe, coming back to Delhi was an emotional decision as well. It was my home ground. That's the only thing I can think of at this moment,” said Gambhir. “When I joined KKR, I was 28. Now I am 36. That could be one reason I could handle it more then than now,” he said.
He insisted that it was his own decision and he was not forced to step down by the franchise. “As the leader of the ship, I take complete responsibility for where we are in the points table. It is absolutely my decision. I called up GMR Group chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi and CEO Hemant Dua, and initiated the meeting. I hadn't contributed enough. Obviously, being the leader of the ship, I owe that responsibility. I think it was the right time to put my hand up. (There was) no pressure from franchise, they have been totally supportive about it.”
Gambhir's decision to quit captaincy got full support from the Delhi Daredevils management and coach Ricky Ponting.
Dua said that Gambhir had not been asked to step down by the Delhi Daredevils management. “This was a decision Gautam took on his own. We salute him and are touched by this decision. There are not examples like this in India. He will continue as player and mentor.”
It remains to be seen whether coach Ponting and new skipper Iyer will have Gambhir in their scheme of things when it comes to the playing XI.
Ponting said that it was not an easy decision to step down in middle of the season. “I'd like to congratulate Gautam for putting the team ahead of his own individual thoughts. It shows great character. I also fully endorse Shreyas Iyer as next captain. He has terrific future.”
Gambhir, too, supported the 23-year-old. “We all feel Shreyas Iyer is the right choice. We feel he will do a very good job.”
Gambhir said it was to early to decide or take final call on his cricketing future.
“I need more time to think. See my game... what I am able to achieve in the next games.” Gambhir is third in the list of leading scorers in IPL in all seasons, having scored 4,217 runs in 154 IPL matches, with 36 half centuries and a highest score of 93.
Gambhir, who was the Delhi skipper till last domestic season, was replaced by the young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. With the burden of captaincy lifted off his shoulders, Gambhir fired with the bat and led Delhi into the finals of the Ranji Trophy where they eventually lost to Vidarbha.