On 4 September 2023, India locked horns with Nepal in the ongoing Asia Cup in Pallekele. Nepal were asked to bat firsts and they set a 231-run target for the Men in Blue after getting bundled out within 48.2 overs. But, during that encounter, the former Team India international, Gautam Gambhir hit the headlines.
Gambhir was doing his commentary in this match also. But, on social media, a video went viral where he was seen showing his middle finger to a crowd during the India vs Pakistan clash in Pallekele on 2 September. A chant of ‘Kohli, Kohli’ or ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ was also heard and hence, many fans went berserk on social media to slam him. But, during the India vs Nepal clash, Gambhir came up and clarified the reality behind that video.
Here are the shared videos:
Gautam Gambhir 👀pic.twitter.com/5wj1bCddm4
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 4, 2023
Gambhir talking about the viral video spreading on social media.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 4, 2023pic.twitter.com/p4OHlGgLvH
“I heard chants of 'Hindustan Murdabad'.” - Gautam Gambhir
While speaking to reporters, Gambhir said that people did not see the reality on social media. He accused Pakistan fans of anti-India chants and those chants only triggered him to do such action toward them.
"Whatever is shown on social media, there is no truth to it. People show what they want to show on social media. What actually happened was there were anti-India slogans being chanted, I heard chants of 'Hindustan Murdabad'. There were slogans about Kashmir also. So there will obviously be a reaction, one way or the other or laugh at it. There were a couple of Pakistani people, they were shouting anti-India stuff. Obviously it was a natural reaction. I can't hear things being said about my country," he said.
After such a clarification, fans also shared their views on social media. However, Gambhir is a current member of the Lok Sabha since 2019. Despite that, after playing from 2003 to 2016 for his national team, it seemed that his patriotism made him do so towards such fans as he failed to control himself.
Here is how fans have reacted:
Indian team Pakistan se dosti karne me busy cricket se koi matlab nahi inhe
— Shankar Raika (@ShankarRaika51) September 4, 2023
how come so quick the clarification came?
— CricketCraze18 (@cricket_craze18) September 4, 2023
Hindustan Zindabaad 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
— The Right Wing Guy (@meetbeniwal999) September 4, 2023
Chanting Dhoni and Kohli's name became an anti national act? 😂😂
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) September 4, 2023
Abey latkhor.
Sahi to bol raha hai gambhir
— Shankar Raika (@ShankarRaika51) September 4, 2023
Kohli kab se pakistani hogya 😞
— Amit Shah (Parody) (@Motabhai012) September 4, 2023
Even I felt Video was fabricated..
— GEETROCKKER (@GEETROCKKER) September 4, 2023
Gambhir is right ✅️
Damage control😂
— Mad Max (@_mad_maaxx) September 4, 2023
If this is the truth, then you did right 👍
— Saumya Tripathi (@SanskariSaumyat) September 4, 2023