IPL 2020 : “The problem is about accountability,” Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli as RCB’s 13 year long wait for a title continues

IPL 2020 : “The problem is about accountability,” Gautam Gambhir slams Virat Kohli as RCB’s 13 year long wait for a title continues

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir

Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s search for their maiden IPL trophy continues as they were knocked of IPL 2020 after a subdued performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Put to bat first in the eliminator, the Virat Kohli led side finished on a modest 131 before SRH comfortably chased down after some early hiccups.

RCB’s top order disaster returned to haunt them as they yet again failed to get off to a good start in a crucial game. And all their hopes were again on the shoulders of AB de Villiers. The veteran batter played a level headed knock of 56. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t enough as Kane Williamson‘s match-saving fifty and Jason Holder‘s late flourish snatched the game away from RCB.

The problem is somewhere else

Virat Kohli

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir lashed out at skipper Kohli for RCB’s lacklustre performance in the league. Gambhir cited a lack of accountability in the leadership has led RCB to such results. The 39-year-old pointed out that a change in support staff is clearly not the answer for RCB, who have been titleless for 8 long years under Kohli’s leadership.

“But again I think there are a lot of problems. The problem starts with the management, the problem starts with the support staff and then, most importantly, the problem starts with the leadership. Till the time the leadership is not accountable, you will keep getting the same results year after year and that is where the problem is,” Gambhir said on ESPN Cricinfo T20 Timeout.

“8 years into the IPL and you still haven’t won the IPL, so that is where the problem is, not the coaches. And I feel sorry for the coaches, I feel sorry for the support staff. I feel sorry for all those people because every year you have a new coach for the RCB but the problem is somewhere else,” he explains.

I have nothing against Virat Kohli

Gambhir demanded an immediate change in leadership as he went on to add that no other player in the history of IPL has had the luxury the RCB captain enjoys. The former Delhi opener cited the example of Ravichandran Ashwin who was sacked after two dismal seasons as captain. Gambhir urged Kohli to be as accountable for his side’s failure as he is credited for its successes.

“The problem is about accountability. 8 years into the tournament, 8 years is a long time. Tell me any other captain, forget about captain tell me any other player who would have got 8 years and wouldn’t have won the title and still continue with it. So it has to be about accountability, a captain needs to take accountability. Especially when you had a season in, I don’t remember 2016 or 2017 where they got bowled out for 49and they won only 1 game in the IPL. And it’s not only one year and its not only about this,” the cricketer turned politician further says.

“I have nothing against Virat Kohli but somewhere down the line, he needs to put his hand up and say Yes I’m responsible and I’m accountable. 8 years is a long long time. Look at what has happened to Ravichandran Ashwin, two years of captaincy and he couldn’t deliver. So he was removed. There shouldn’t be different yardsticks for different people. The problem, the accountability starts from the top, not from the management, not from the support staff but from the leader. You are the leader, you are the captain, so when you take credit, you should take the criticisms as well.“

Also read : IPL 2020 Playoffs: SRH beat RCB in thrilling last-over finish to set up Qualifier-2 clash with Delhi Capitals