The Indian Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in a world where top players from various countries take part. Since the inception of IPL in 2008, captains were made according to their form, talent and ability to lead the team.
Due to lack of form or the pressure, many captains have decided to step from the post and gave it to other players. It is a massive challenge in the IPL to lead a franchise where various cricketers from all over the world come and play with each other for the time period.
Here we look captains who have decided to step down during mid-season:-
- VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman was made the captain of Deccan Chargers in the first season of IPL in 2008. He dropped himself from the team due to his poor form at the start. Adam Gilchrist was named as the captain of Deccan Chargers side. In the first season, Deccan Chargers franchise finished last. In 2008, Deccan Chargers played 14 matches, winning only 2 and losing 12.
In the second edition of IPL, Adam Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers to their first the title. VVS Laxman was a part of Deccan Chargers side in the 2nd season.
- Harbhajan Singh
In the 2008 edition of IPL, Sachin Tendulkar decided to step down from captaincy due to a groin injury. Mumbai Indians named Harbhajan Singh as the captain. He captained two games and in the third game against Kings XI Punjab, he had a slap gate incident with Sreesanth which led Harbhajan Singh to suspension.
Mumbai Indians finished 5th in the points table with 7 wins and 7 loses. Harbhajan Singh took 5 wickets in 3 matches that he captained and also had one good contribution in that tournament. Shaun Pollock was named as the third captain of Mumbai Indians franchise.
- Kevin Pietersen
England Kevin Pietersen was named as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore side in the opening stages of IPL 2008. Kevin had to leave the IPL midway due to international commitments in the 2009 edition.
After Pietersen left, one of the best bowlers in Indian Cricket, Anil Kumble was named as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore side and led RCB to their first finals. In the finals, RCB lost to Deccan Chargers.
- Daniel Vettori
The New Zealand legend spinner Daniel Vettori was named as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore side in IPL 2012. Due to his poor form, Vettori stepped down from captaincy post in the middle of the season. Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan was named as the captain of RCB side many times but could not help RCB to the side to take into playoff stage.
Vettori could not perform well with the bat and ball also. The Royal Challengers Bangalore management decided to give Virat Kohli the captaincy post and won 6 matches out of 8 that he led.
Royal Challengers Bangalore finished 5th in the points table with 8 wins and 7 losses.
- Kumar Sangakkara
The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara was named as the captain of Deccan Chargers franchise in 2012 which was the last season for Deccan Chargers. Due to poor form with the bat, Kumar decided to step as the captain of DC franchise.
Deccan Chargers finished 7th in the points table with 4 wins and 11 losses. After Kumar Sangakkara poor performance, Cameron White took as the captain but could not change the fortune of Deccan Chargers franchise in 2012 edition of IPL.
- Ricky Pointing
The current Delhi Daredevils coach, Ricky Pointing was named as the captain of Mumbai Indians franchise in 2013. Due to his poor form with bat and captaincy, he decided to give the captaincy to Rohit Sharma who led Mumbai India to win their first title of IPL.
Rohit Sharma led side lost in the first qualifier and then crushed Chennai Super Kings in the finals. Ricky Pointing played a total of 10 matches in IPL history scoring just 91 runs with the best score of 28.
- Shikhar Dhawan
The stylish left-handed batsman Shikhar Dhawan was made the captain of new franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. Dhawan scored 215 runs from 10 matches in the 2014 edition, SRH management decided to give West Indies Darren Sammy the captaincy.
Darren Sammy led SRH to better performances. In the 2014 edition of IPL, SRH finished at 6th position with 6 wins and 8 losses from 14 matches. Under the captaincy of David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad won their first IPL title by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2016 edition.
- Shane Watson
In the 2014 edition of IPL, Rajasthan Royals decided to give Steve Smith as the captain as Shane Watson did come for the toss. Watson performed badly in the 2015 edition with both bat and ball, stepped down from the captaincy quietly.
Rajasthan Royals performed brilliantly in the 2014 edition after the initial setback. Mumbai Indians chased down 189 in 14.4 overs during the remarkable comeback in IPL history and RR had to settle for 5th position.
RR played 14 matches winning 7 matches and losing 7 matches. RR had to restrict Mumbai Indians from scoring 189 in 14.4 overs but could not do it. Watson has been there in IPL history from 2008 onwards.
- David Miller
In the 2016 edition, the South African hard-hitting batsman was retained by Kings XI Punjab side. He had no experience of leading any side. In the starting of the tournament, David Miller lost five matches out of six matches.
David Miller made 76 runs from 6 innings. In the middle of the season, Murali Vijay was named as captain. The fortunes did not change for Kings XI Punjab as Vijay lost 6 games out next 9.
Kings XI Punjab did not have a great season in 2016 edition finishing last winning only 4 matches and losing 10 from the 14 matches played.
- Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was made the captain of Delhi Daredevils franchise in 2018 edition auction after poor performances in previous few seasons. So far, Delhi has lost 5 matches and won 1 match sitting at the bottom of the points table with 2 points only. Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
He came back to the Delhi franchise that he played for the first few years. With Iyer taking over the captaincy,
Yesterday at the press conference, Gambhir decided to step from captaincy. He scored only 85 runs from 6 matches so far with the best score of 55. Young Iyer would be leading Delhi franchise for the rest of season.