Gautam Gambhir minced no phrases whereas expressing disappointment over Eoin Morgan’s captaincy as Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a 38-run loss in opposition to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Gambhir, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL glory throughout his stint with the franchise, failed to know Morgan choosing Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan and never persevering with the assault with Varun Chakravarthy after the Indian eliminated Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar in his first over.
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“Virat Kohli was a big wicket, no doubt about it. But that has to be the weirdest kind of captaincy I have ever seen in my life. Someone taking two wickets in the first over, and then does not get to bowl the next one,” Gambhir mentioned through the mid-innings present on Star Sports.
“Probably when you know the in-form batter is in. You could have probably seen the game in the first six overs, had Varun Chakravarthy had picked the third wicket or dismissed Glenn Maxwell. This game could have been over there and then.”
“Yes, AB de Villiers was there, but it would have put pressure on him as well,” the previous Indian cricketer added.
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Gambhir additionally said that he was glad that the tactic, which he termed as ‘blunder’ was not made by an Indian skipper because it might have led to large criticism.
“I am happy that an Indian captain did not make this blunder. Because a lot of people would have actually got their daggers out had an Indian captain made this call. That was probably the most ridiculous captaincy I have ever seen,” Gambhir mentioned.
“I can’t explain that. Because there is no terminology for it – when someone has taken two wickets, and an in-form batter is in and you take off your wicket-taking option in the next over,” he signed off.
Getting off to a dreadful begin after electing to bat first, RCB recovered properly, courtesy to some positive hitting by Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers because the workforce piled an unlimited 204/4 in their 20 overs. In response, Kolkata Knight Riders might solely muster 166/8 in 20 overs.