Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir highlighted what he feels is the "biggest difference" between the captaincy styles of Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
While Super Kings have won three Indian Premier League (IPL) titles under Dhoni, Kohli's Royal Challengers are yet to lift the coveted trophy.
WATCH – Aakash Chopra points out glaring weaknesses in RCB squad
Ahead of the league's 13th edition in UAE, Gambhir, talking on Star Sports' show 'Cricket Connected', said Kohli tends to be too reactive to losses when it comes to selection, whereas Dhoni remains calm and backs his players.
“The biggest difference between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni is that MS Dhoni persists with his players for 6-7 matches. If you see RCB’s trend, they make changes very quickly because they have a doubt that their playing XI does not have a proper balance," said Gambhir.
“So I would want to see from RCB that even if the start is not good, they should persist with their playing XI and give them 6-7 matches. Because then only the players will give you performances and not if you give one or two matches."
"So if Virat Kohli has calmness in his mind that this is the most balanced squad, the important thing will be how they perform and how much he persists with these players."
Kohli, training hard for the IPL 2020, had said this is the most confident and secured he has felt leading into a season, given the balance of the squad.
Gambhir, even though he doubts whether RCB still have a robust bowling attack capable of winning a long tournament such as the IPL, said it's good Kohli is feeling calm about things, for that would result in more clarity and consistency in team selection.
“What Virat Kohli has said, when you are happy with your squad as a captain, you would have already planned which playing XI you want to play."
"If you are satisfied, then the calmness also comes along. Because there are times that you do not come to know your best XI in the entire tournament and that is why you make a lot of changes."
“I still feel that RCB look a little batting-heavy. But one thing that you will see a little different is that the bowlers will be happy because they will not have to play 7 matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium," Gambhir concluded.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's campaign starts with a fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on September 21 in Dubai.
