Gautam Gambhir today stepped down as Indian Premier League laggards Delhi Daredevils captain, saying he just could not handle the pressure of the job.
Delhi Daredevils got off to a horrendous start in the ongoing edition of the IPL. The Delhi-based franchise has won only one in six matches they have played so far.
Shreyas Iyer, 23, will take over the reins of the team.
Delhi Daredevils batsman Shreyas Iyer | AFP
Delhi Daredevils is currently at the bottom of the IPL table, tied on points with Mumbai Indians but with an inferior run-rate.
“Maybe I was too desperate to turn things around and that can backfire. It could be the reason. I just couldn't handle the pressure and when you don't do that, you have to own that up as a leader,' Gambhir said in a press conference also attended by franchise CEO Hemant Dua and coach Ricky Ponting.
“I was sitting alone and thinking, I couldn't handle the pressure... I was not good enough and that is all,” he added.
The 36-year-old, who has led Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in the past, was signed up by the Delhi Daredevils this season for Rs 2.8 crore, and was made the skipper. However, barring a 42-ball 55 in the first match against Kings XI Punjab, Gambhir has not contributed much with the bat either—85 runs in six matches so far.
Iyer, after an indifferent start with the bat to the season, has scored back-to-back half centuries in the last two matches, albeit in vain.
Gambhir has led the Daredevils in 2010 edition of the IPL, when they ended up in the fifth place.
(With PTI inputs)