New Delhi, Sept. 21: Having already expressed his reluctance to lead India, opener Virender Sehwag on Monday stepped down as captain of the Delhi Daredevils, saying he would rather focus on batting.

Gautam Gambhir will lead the Indian Premier League franchise in next month’s Champions League Twenty20, and is also expected to remain captain in the IPL’s third edition in 2009, with wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik as his deputy.

"I would like to thank GMR (the franchise owners) for their understanding in accepting my request to step down," Sehwag said on Monday. "Personally, I would like to concentrate on my batting and contribute to the team."

Sehwag had, in fact, conveyed to the franchise his decision just after the IPL-2 in South Africa earlier this year, according to a Daredevils official. "Sehwag had injured his shoulder in Delhi’s semifinal match against the Deccan Chargers in South Africa, and felt that he could no longer bear the stress of both the captaincy and batting. He resigned after the event, but we told him to reconsider his decision. We felt that he hadn’t thought things through," GMR sports director B. Vanchi told this newspaper.

The Daredevils started the search for a new captain, when Sehwag declined to lead the side in the Champions League about a month back.

"After Sehwag refused to reconsider his decision, we started a lengthy process of selection and zeroed in on Gambhir," Vanchi added.

Gambhir, for his part, had led the Daredevils in four matches this year of which the side won three.

"I can always turn to Viru for any advice, as also to the other seniors in the team. We have great camaraderie in the side and this will help us reach greater heights," Gambhir said, expressing his delight at being picked as captain.

"Gautam did a great job of leading Delhi and also during the IPL 2 in South Africa this year," Sehwag said. "He has shown very good leadership skills and will bring fresh energy in the Daredevils." Sehwag had incidentally been named captain of the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup — beginning from October 1 — only a few days ago.