IPL 2019: 3 Teams Gautam Gambhir could play for
News of the list of players who have been retained and who have been released by their respective Indian Premier League franchises came with a lot of different surprises. Many notable players ended up being dropped by their teams ahead of next year's IPL season and this has caught the attention of many fans across the world.
One of the biggest names to have been dropped by their franchises is Gautam Gambhir. While there was always some sort of speculation that Gambhir might not be retained by the Delhi Daredevils due to his poor run of form during IPL 2018, his release from the franchise says a lot about what the Delhi Daredevils think when it comes to backing the veteran batsman for one more season.
Gambhir had a poor IPL 2018, scoring just 85 runs in six matches, and eventually stepping down from the captaincy which made way for Shreyas Iyer to lead the team. Gambhir eventually found himself being dropped from the playing XI and this was a clear indication that his playing spot was under threat and that he was at risk of being dropped by his franchise for next year's Indian Premier League.
The inevitable has happened and Gambhir finds himself having been released by the franchise. While many may feel that this is the end of the road for the veteran batsman and that he might not even feature in next year's Indian Premier League, the truth of the matter is that he is paying a heavy price for one poor season and that he still has a lot of potential which can be on immense value to the rest of the IPL teams.
These franchises would benefit immensely from Gambhir's talent as well as his experience, and he could make a huge difference when it comes to their IPL season next year. While every franchise would benefit from this, this article will take a look at three franchises in particular which would derive the most value from his services.
#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore have always been a strong team in the batting department, but the release of some big name players such as Brendon McCullum and the hard-hitting Quinton de Kock would see the franchise searching for some batting strength at the top of the order.
Gambhir is a player who could fill the role of a top-order batsman for RCB to absolute perfection. He has the ability to shift gears when is needed and provides a sense of calm at the crease which RCB sometimes tends to lack.
He can also carry his bat through the innings and play an anchor role which would allow the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to bat freely and play their natural game without worrying about a batting collapse ensuing should their wicket fall.
His experience will also be of value to the team, especially given the fact that the franchise have been struggling to get over the line and to win their first IPL season.