IPL 2019: 3 Teams Gautam Gambhir could play for

News of the list of players who have been retained and who have been released by their respective Indian Premier League franchises came with a lot of different surprises. Many notable players ended up being dropped by their teams ahead of next year's IPL season and this has caught the attention of many fans across the world.

One of the biggest names to have been dropped by their franchises is Gautam Gambhir. While there was always some sort of speculation that Gambhir might not be retained by the Delhi Daredevils due to his poor run of form during IPL 2018, his release from the franchise says a lot about what the Delhi Daredevils think when it comes to backing the veteran batsman for one more season.

Gambhir had a poor IPL 2018, scoring just 85 runs in six matches, and eventually stepping down from the captaincy which made way for Shreyas Iyer to lead the team. Gambhir eventually found himself being dropped from the playing XI and this was a clear indication that his playing spot was under threat and that he was at risk of being dropped by his franchise for next year's Indian Premier League.

The inevitable has happened and Gambhir finds himself having been released by the franchise. While many may feel that this is the end of the road for the veteran batsman and that he might not even feature in next year's Indian Premier League, the truth of the matter is that he is paying a heavy price for one poor season and that he still has a lot of potential which can be on immense value to the rest of the IPL teams.

These franchises would benefit immensely from Gambhir's talent as well as his experience, and he could make a huge difference when it comes to their IPL season next year. While every franchise would benefit from this, this article will take a look at three franchises in particular which would derive the most value from his services.

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#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have always been a strong team in the batting department, but the release of some big name players such as Brendon McCullum and the hard-hitting Quinton de Kock would see the franchise searching for some batting strength at the top of the order.

Gambhir is a player who could fill the role of a top-order batsman for RCB to absolute perfection. He has the ability to shift gears when is needed and provides a sense of calm at the crease which RCB sometimes tends to lack.

He can also carry his bat through the innings and play an anchor role which would allow the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to bat freely and play their natural game without worrying about a batting collapse ensuing should their wicket fall.

His experience will also be of value to the team, especially given the fact that the franchise have been struggling to get over the line and to win their first IPL season.

#2 Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH

The Sunrisers Hyderabad are another IPL team who will be looking for a reliable and experienced batsman to open the batting with the returning David Warner. The franchise announced that they would not be retaining the services of star batsman Shikar Dhawan for next year's IPL season - a decision which has come as somewhat of a shock to many fans.

Gambhir could prove to be the perfect partner for David Warner to bat around at the top of the order. He can shift gears with his batting and match the pace of the game which is something which allow the other batsmen to bat around him freely and comfortably.

Gambhir can also provide a sense of calm to the franchise, especially in light of the returning David Warner and the potential unrest which may come with him after the ball-tampering incident which saw him being banned from last year's IPL.

#1 Kings XI Punjab

KXIP

The Kings XI Punjab have always been a strong team in the IPL but have failed to win the tournament, despite looking promising on many occasions. One of their biggest areas of concern have been their lack of consistency and this is something which the franchise will be looking to resolve during next year's IPL season.

The franchise announced that they have released Aaron Finch from their team and this provides Gambhir with an ideal opportunity to show the cricketing world that he still has a lot to offer.

The Kings XI Punjab could slot Gambhir in perfectly at the top of the order to open the batting with Chris Gayle and lay a solid platform for the players to come. Gayle would be able to bat around Gambhir and play his game with a lot of freedom, as would David Miller. He himself is capable of really picking up the pace with the bat and can ensure that the batting does not lose momentum.

He could also fill the role of captain for the squad - something which the Kings XI should seriously consider. Gambhir is an experienced campaigner and has seen IPL success before. This experience could be exactly the missing element from the team which is required for them to finally lift that IPL trophy at the end of next season.