IPL 2021: RCB could not choose to retain AB de Villiers for next season – Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir reckons Royal Challengers Bangalore should not choose to retain AB de Villiers for the next season.

AB de Villiers has always been instrumental in the success of RCB over the years but the talisman batter could not bring his best in IPL 2021.

In fact, AB had done a decent job in the first phase of the season but he was far from his best in the second leg of the tournament. The former Proteas skipper scored 313 runs in 14 innings at an average of 31.30 and a strike rate of 148.34.

However, AB is now 37 years old and he is definitely at the fag end of his career. Thus, de Villiers is not at the peak of his prowess and Gambhir feels it doesn’t make sense to retain him for the next season as RCB should look to build a new team.

Gambhir said that RCB should look to retain Glenn Maxwell as he is the future whereas de Villiers might be past his best.

“Yes, because I think they will retain Glenn Maxwell since he is the future, and AB de Villiers is not,” said Gambhir when asked if he feels RCB may choose not to retain De Villiers this season.

AB de Villiers could only go past the 20-run mark on two occasions in the second phase of the tournament and he was not at his best. In fact, de Villiers was also not utilized properly by RCB’s think tank as he batted at number five or even sometimes at six in the batting order.

Gambhir added RCB might look to retain their former skipper Virat Kohli and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal along with Glenn Maxwell. Kohli has made his intentions clear that he wants to play for RCB till the end of his IPL career.

RCB was knocked out of the tournament as they lost to KKR by four wickets in the Eliminator.