Gautam Gambhir has once again highlighted the shortcomings of our cricketing system. The winner of two World Cups feels weak deputies are picked in order to please the skipper in India.
He also added that IPL franchises have failed to groom their no.2s. “I am all for a good leader and his legacy but for me, the No. 2 in the ranks is a more important debate. I am not sure we give enough importance or relevance to the vice-captaincy in our cricket,” he wrote in his column for the Times of India.
“Unfortunately in our systems, a vice-captain is picked on the basis of how submissive he is. If he is deemed to be a threat to the captain’s position, he is not picked for the role. Some of the current teams in the IPL have missed the opportunity to groom their no.2s. To me that is a bigger hurdle than not winning an IPL trophy,” he added.
During his tenure in international cricket, Gautam Gambhir served as deputy to MS Dhoni and even led India in a couple of games. Elab orating more on the vice-captain’s role, Gambhir recalled how Anil Kumble was competitive as vice-captain.
“In my time I had seen Anil Kumble being an exemplary vice-captain for India. He was always selfless, a giver, and yet fiercely competitive. He was always ready to carry forward the team culture created by the leadership group of his time. It is a pity that vice-captain Kumble could not lead India for long,” asserted Gambhir.