Gautam Gambhir has launched a scathing attack on AB de Villiers, accusing the former South African cricketer of hypocrisy for criticizing Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir, a two-time IPL-winning skipper, questioned de Villiers’ own credentials as a leader, highlighting that the Proteas legend had failed to achieve anything significant in terms of team success.
Gambhir’s comments came in response to de Villiers’ recent remarks, where he suggested that Pandya’s captaincy lacked authenticity and was driven by ego. The flamboyant Indian all-rounder has faced criticism from several quarters this season, as Mumbai Indians have struggled to find their rhythm and are in danger of missing out on the playoffs.
However, Gambhir came to Pandya’s defence, arguing that he has achieved more as a captain than de Villiers, who he claimed has not even captained a single IPL game. Gambhir also pointed out that de Villiers’ on-field persona was often a facade, designed to intimidate opponents.
“When they themselves did captaincy [were captains], what were their own performances like? I do not think that whether it is Kevin Pietersen or AB de Villiers, there have ever been performances in their careers from a leadership point of view. Nothing. If you look up their records, I think it’s worse than any other leader,” Gambhir said on Sportskeeda.
“I don’t think AB de Villiers has even captained any game in the IPL or ultimately achieved anything apart from his own scores. I do not think he has achieved anything from a team point of view. Hardik Pandya is still an IPL-winning captain. So, you should only compare orange to oranges, not apples to oranges,” he added.
De Villiers, who retired from international cricket in 2018, has not played in the IPL since 2021. However, he has remained active as a commentator and analyst, offering his insights on the game.
Gambhir’s comments have sparked a debate on the role of leadership in cricket and the importance of authenticity. It remains to be seen if de Villiers will respond to Gambhir’s criticism, but the former India cricketer’s comments have certainly added fuel to the fire.
