Virat Kohli to step down as RCB captain after IPL 2021: Gautam Gambhir questions timing of the decision

Former India opener and Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir said he was surprised by Virat Kohli’s decision to step down as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore after the completion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, questioning the timing of his announcement.

Gautam Gambhir said Virat Kohli’s announcement which was made on the eve of RCB’s first match of the UAE leg of IPL 2021 can make the team unsettled and put more pressure on them to win it for their captain.

Virat Kohli said on Sunday that we would step down as RCB captain at the end of the remainder of IPL 2021. Kohli said he wanted to be clear about the decision, keeping in mind the mega auction in 2022. Kohli maintained that he will continue to play for RCB until he retires from the T20 format of the game.

Kohli’s decision to give up RCB captaincy comes a week after he announced he would quit T20I captaincy after India’s campaign in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“Yes, it does (the timing of the decision surprises me). Just before the 2nd leg of the tournament. If you want to do that, you probably do it after the tournament. Because it makes the team unsettled and emotional as well,” Gambhir told Star Sports on Sunday.

“It makes the people probably push even harder. You would not want to do that, especially the kind of situation RCB is in.

“They are in a very good position. Why would you want to put that extra pressure, probably push your players to probably do it for Virat. You don’t want to win it for individuals, you want to win it for the franchise. If he had to do it, he could have done it after the tournament as well.”

RCB are at the 3rd spot with 5 wins from 7 matches and will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on Monday. RCB need only a couple of wins from here to make it to their second successive play-offs in the IPL.

Kohli has taken a brave decision: Gambhir

However, the former KKR captain, who is among the most successful skippers in the history of the IPL, said stepping down from high-profile roles are personal and he understands why Kohli decided to give up RCB captaincy.

Kohli took over Daniel Vettori as the full-time skipper in 2013 but has not managed to win the league with RCB even once. Under Kohli, RCB’s best finish was a place in the final in 2016 following which they finished outside the play-off spots for 3 successive seasons.

“Stepping down and retirement are two decisions which are very individual. No one should force it on anyone. Probably, you have to feel it from inside. He has taken a brave decision but it’s going to be an emotional moment. It’s never going to be easy. Probably, the players and the franchise don’t get emotional and continue to play the way they were playing in this season,” Gambhir added.