Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir found himself embroiled in controversy during the Asia Cup 2023 commentary. A video that went viral on social media depicted Gambhir making a controversial gesture towards fans. He was part of the commentary panel during the India vs. Nepal group stage game when the incident occurred.
As Gambhir exited the commentary box, fans enthusiastically chanted the names of cricketing icons Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. However, the video showed Gambhir making a contentious gesture while being escorted by an official, which caught the attention of viewers and led to a social media uproar.
In response to the controversy, Gambhir took to a microblogging site to issue a clarification. He quoted the adage, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes,” to emphasize that not everything is as it seems. He explained that any Indian would react similarly to slogans used against their nation and affirmed his love for Indian players and his country.
Gambhir’s Statement Post Controversy –
Gautam Gambhir said, “whatever is shown on social media cannot be true. The crowd was chanting anti India slogans”. pic.twitter.com/hCw4y1qdtH
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 4, 2023
Gambhir also spoke to the media and elaborated on the context of the viral video. He revealed that the individuals who provoked his reaction were making anti-India statements and discussing Kashmir. He asserted that he couldn’t tolerate anything against his country, leading to his natural response.