Would have played for DD if I had got a chance: Gautam Gambhir

The Indian veteran batsman Gautam Gambhir has revealed that he never asked to be dropped from the playing eleven of Delhi Daredevils in the ongoing IPL.

He stated “I never dropped myself from the playing eleven, if that was the case I would’ve announced my retirement as well”, Gautam said in an interview this week.

Gautam Gambhir was acquired by the Delhi Daredevils in the auction held earlier in January for Rs. 2.80 crore after his previous franchise dropped the idea of retaining him before the auction and refrained from roping him in the squad through the right to match card.

According to reports, DD coach, Ricky Ponting recommended Gambhir’s name to the management as he wanted to build a team around Gambhir.

However, things didn’t go well for Gambhir as captain and he could only manage 1 win for his team in 6 games which resulted in Delhi Daredevils reeling at the bottom of the points table. After that, he stated in a press conference that he was unable to handle the pressure and hence the 23-year-old right-hander Shreyas Iyer was appointed as the new skipper for the side.

DD’s head coach Ricky Ponting praised his selflessness in the post-match conference held after Delhi’s last league game match win against Mumbai Indians.

Ponting said ” I thought it was a really courageous decision for a senior Indian player to make, you don’t see those made every day. He stood down for what he thought was for the betterment of the team. He decided to made way for someone like Prithvi Shaw”.

Gambhir said, ” I never rejected from playing in the side and the team management and Ricky Ponting is also aware of the fact”.

Ricky Pointing was all praises for the veteran after he was brought in the auction where he embarked his terrific captaincy record for KKR, and said that it was his leadership skills which helped KKR clinch the title twice.

Gambhir not only relinquished his role as the skipper of Delhi Daredevils but also waived his auction money of Rs 2.80 crores.

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