Gautam Gambhir caught flipping off fans during Asia Cup 2023, issues clarification
In the backdrop of this already charged atmosphere, a group of fans, purportedly staunch Kohli supporters, began chanting their cricketing icon's name as Gambhir ascended the stadium stairs. The audible 'Kohli, Kohli' refrain filled the arena, further intensifying an already tense situation.
New Delhi: Former Indian cricket star Gautam Gambhir has found himself in the spotlight once more during the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka as he was spotted showing the middle finger to fans in the stadium.
The ongoing Asia Cup 2023’s Sri Lanka is being held at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy where Gautam Gambhir is present at the venue as a commentator for the broadcaster. The incident occurred when Gambhir was rushing inside the Pallekele stadium due to an unexpected rain delay, and fans greeted him with ‘Kohli, Kohli’ chants. In response, the former cricketer was seen showing them the middle finger.
🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/xFVrDMHlvR
— Waleed 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@WaleedMalik_9) September 4, 2023
Gautam Gambhir issues clarification
In his latest video, Gautam Gambhir has clarified his behavior towards the fans. As per his statement, his reaction in the viral video shows that if someone speaks ill of India or talks about Kashmir, it’s natural for an Indian present there to react instead of smiling and leaving.
He said to the reporters, “The truth about the video that went viral is that if you raise anti-India slogans and speak about Kashmir, then the person before you will obviously react and not smile and leave.
“There were 2-3 Pakistanis there who were speaking anti-India things and things on Kashmir. So, it was my natural reaction. I can’t hear anything against my country. So, that was my reaction…”
The Intense Rivalry between Kohli and Gambhir
This episode wasn’t the first instance of Gambhir facing the brunt of Kohli’s fanbase. An earlier flare-up occurred during the IPL 2023 when Gambhir, and Kohli, engaged in a heated altercation following a match between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their fiery exchange, not limited to on-field action, reverberated through headlines and ignited their respective fan bases.
Both Kohli and Gambhir found themselves facing fines for their conduct. As per the IPL Code of Conduct, both were penalized 100 percent of their match fees for a Level 2 offense. Naveen-ul-Haq received a 50 percent deduction. Their on-field behavior drew disappointment from former cricketers, who felt that such conduct was beneath the stature of players of their caliber within the sport.