IPL 2018 | Shreyas Iyer appointed Delhi Daredevils captain after Gautam Gambhir steps down
Things have further deteriorated for Delhi Daredevils as Gautam Gambhir has decided to step down from the captaincy after leading the side to just one win in the opening five games. The Delhi-based franchise has asked young Shreyas Iyer to take the reins of the side for the rest of the season.
The season has gone from bad to worse for Gambhir and Delhi. The former Kolkata Knight Riders captain had requested the two-time Champions not to retain him at the mega-auctions expressing his desire to captain his hometown for the 2018 season. However, despite a decorated auction where Delhi decided to revamp the side yet again, this time with a proven skipper at the helm, they find themselves at the rock bottom of the table with two points after six games.
Gambhir was bought by Delhi for 2.80 crores at the auctions with the fans and the management banking on him to bring an end to their trophy drought. The southpaw, who was a figure of leadership and consistency at KKR, has managed just 85 runs in six games at an average of 17. Quite interestingly, Delhi
"I take full responsibility for the position we are in. And looking at the position, I have decided to step down as captain. Iyer will take over. I still feel we have the team to turn things around this IPL," Gambhir said, reported Cricbuzz.
"It was absolutely my decision. The management didn't pressurise at all. It was the right time to step down."
Iyer has been in decent form for the strugglers. Scoring two fifties so far, in the league Iyer has amassed 151 runs at an average of 37.75. However, the 23-year-old, although hugely talented, has no experience of captaincy whatsoever. Rishabh Pant, who captained Delhi at the Vijay Hazare and also led Delhi at the Ranji Trophy final, was surprisingly overlooked. However, Iyer seemed excited by the new challenge and Delhi would hope this turns out to be the right way forward.
"I just got the news today afternoon and I wasn't thinking much about it. I'm really loving the responsibility they've put upon me and also the faith they've shown