The Indian Premier League (IPL) is in its 12th edition, with the first match only four days away, and Padma Shri recipient and former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes that Virat Kohli should thank Royal Challengers Bangalore for sticking with him despite the poor results the franchise has shown in the star-studded tournament.

Gambhir, who recently appeared on Star Sports' analysis show Game Plan said that one shouldn't compare Kohli's captaincy to Rohit Sharma's (Mumbai Indians) or Mahendra Singh Dhoni's (Chennai Super Kings) as they have won three titles each so far, while RCB hasn't won a single tournament under Kohli's leadership since 2011.

"I don’t see him (Kohli) as a shoot captain or a tactful captain. And he hasn’t won the IPL. So ultimately a captain is only as good as his record till the time you don’t win the IPL," Gambhir said on the show.

Further explaining why he shouldn't be compared to the likes of Dhoni and Sharma, the former Kolkata Knight Riders' captain said, "He has been part of RCB and captaining RCB for the last seven to eight years and he has been very lucky and should rather thank the franchise that they stuck to him because not many captains have got such a long run where they haven’t won a tournament."

Gambhir's views were met with disagreement on social media.

GG : There will be no great captains. There are only great teams. A captain is as good as his team

Also GG : A captain is as good as his records suggest pic.twitter.com/Q1h0TDaaRP

— Spidey (@MrStarksPeter) March 18, 2019

I really respected Gambhir sir due to his extraordinary dedication to the sport. But this sort of destructive cricticism is not acceptable. After his retirement, all he has done is blame and criticise Dhoni, Kohli, Shastri. Didn't expect this from him. #IPL12 pic.twitter.com/LGdtH35fRV

— Maheshmello (@cheeku_243) March 18, 2019

India won an overseas Test & ODI series in Australia, SA & NZ under that captain which supposedly lacks tactics. Enough for him, will take that captain anyday over someone like Rohit at least. And give a bad team, even Dhoni would fail to give you results, no captain would.

— Akshay Sharma (@akshaypasu) March 18, 2019

Yeah of course you can't compare the KING 👑 with Rohit or Dhoni or Gambhir.
Virat has won an overseas test series in Aus and also the ICC test championship mace 3 years in a row which the other guys can't even dream about 😎#KingKohli 👑

— Krishna (@krisbangalore95) March 18, 2019

VK probably has the best captaincy win loss record in each format but he is being judged for not able to win IPL..! 😂

— Indianism (@Indianism08) March 18, 2019

I respect u @GautamGambhir sir n we know d relationship between u n our champ..Bt tay doesn't mean compare his ability of captaincy on d basis of ipl...N even u r well aware of the new records he has build up for d Indian team as a captain to boost on

— Chaukidaar Pratibha#Viratian❤️Die hard Namobhakt ❤ (@PRaaj2000) March 18, 2019

Another ex Cricketer now a hypocrite expert
We Indian fans are used to about this

— 🐰 (@RiyaM_17) March 18, 2019

Still, there were many who backed Gambhir.

Gambhir says Kohli should consider himself lucky that RCB management has still stuck with him for the captaincy. I love it.

— Coach™ (@TheShastriWay) March 16, 2019

"Kohli should consider himself lucky that RCB management has still stuck with him for the captaincy"

- G Gambhir (Game plan episode on Star Sports)

Maybe true words!! ✌️✌️#IPL2019 #IPL

— Msd's Pradip (@PradipMsd7) March 16, 2019

Gautam Gambhir is right about Kohli being lucky to be a RCB captain for so long.

But it's as much a PR decision as it is a cricketing one.

— Aditya (@StarkAditya) March 16, 2019

Kohli, on the other hand, told ANI on Saturday that RCB's poor run in the series was due to wrong decisions made in big games.

Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore has won 48.38% matches under Kohli, who is also the second-highest scorer in IPL, behind CSK's Suresh Raina. RCB is yet to win a tournament despite making three appearances in the IPL finals.

The opening match of IPL 12 will be played on Saturday (March 23) at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.