IPL 2018: Twitter Erupts as Delhi Daredevils Drop Gautam Gambhir from Playing XI Against KKR

With their season in disarray, Delhi Daredevils are now not shying away from taking bold calls.

The national-capital based outfit are languishing at the bottom of the points table after managing just one win in six games. Their decade-long wait for an IPL trophy is looking set to be extended for another year, as they are performing poorly. And with time running out, the franchise is now taking the big calls.

On Friday (April 26), the team dropped their ex-captain, Gautam Gambhir for the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Earlier this week, Gambhir had stepped down as skipper in the wake of team’s poor performance. The team had failed to click as a unit, and not surprisingly, the results did not go their way. What made his task, even tougher was his performance with the bat.

He started the season on a brilliant note, scoring 55 against Kings XI Punjab. However, his performance dipped after that. In the next four innings, he was dismissed for single-digit score thrice. In six games, he managed only 85 runs, and the team did not shy away from dropping their ex-skipper.

Meanwhile, Twitter was quick to react to Gambhir’s axing from the playing eleven. Here are some of the reactions:

Don’t agree with the decision to leave @GautamGambhir out. Should have allowed him to play freely without the pressure of captaincy. @DelhiDaredevils

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 27, 2018

Gautam Gambhir's 122-match streak of representing his teams in the IPL comes to an end. No other player captained in 122 straight IPL matches for the teams they played. #IPL2018 #DDvKKR

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 27, 2018

I would’ve played Gambhir in tonight’s game. He’s #DD’s best player vs Spin. #KKR have plenty of them. He isn’t the first or the only batsman to fail in four innings this #IPL #MyThoughts #DDvKKR

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 27, 2018

KKR on the field..
DD on the field..
Gambhir not on the field..

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/BeingFlicked/status/989876849302847488

Only player to lead in 122 straight IPL games for the teams he played. But unfortunately, it came to an end on a sad note to be precise.
"Thank you Gautam Gambhir" for your service as a champion leader. #DDvKKR #DDvsKKR @DelhiDaredevils @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/NEhhqT1aG1

— Khurram Siddiquee (@iamkhurrum12) April 27, 2018

Iyer dropped Gautam Gambhir. He is all set to become next Dhoni. #DDvKKR

— Akshay (@AkshayyJayyn) April 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/Sajjanlaunda/status/989871583144509440

Ohh Delhi , I badly i want to see you loosing . And being at the bottom of table for always .if you don't respect your Captain ,how would you respect your fans .

— Parth Dubey ?? (@ParthUtters) April 27, 2018

Gautam Gambhir left KKR for home side DD and dropped first in IPL after 2010#DDvKKR

— ????? ????? (@Raees_Sajed) April 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/graphicalcomic/status/989873299646697473

https://twitter.com/anshumanreuben/status/989873291149103104

yesterday Yuvraj Singh
today Gautam Gambhir
too much to take for fans with these kind of acts it's tough to support these teams. #DDvKKR

— Mahesh KumaRRR (@Mk_yuvian) April 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/Cricketician_/status/989872745021353989

Iyer dropped Gautam Gambhir. He is all set to become next Dhoni. #DDvKKR

— Akshay (@AkshayyJayyn) April 27, 2018

DD and KKR are facing off for the 22nd time in the Twenty20 format but the first time without Gautam Gambhir in the playing XI of either side. #IPL2018 #DDvKKR

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 27, 2018

So no Gambhir today. Makes sense I guess since the issue was with his batting form not his captaincy.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 27, 2018

Meanwhile, Gambhir has quashed speculations suggesting he might retire in the coming days.

“There has been speculation about my future as a cricketer too. Well, there are no immediate plans to retire. My immediate plans include turning it around for DD, buying a nice gift for my daughter’s birthday on May 1 and moving out of my hotel suite as only the captains get to stay in them,” he wrote in his column for TOI.

Also Read: IPL 2018: Gautam Gambhir Opens Up on His Retirement Plans