Gautam Gambhir appeared for the first time on a podcast. He sat down with ANI’s host Smita Prakash in a long podcast of about 90 minutes.
In the podcast, Gambhir discussed and opined on various topics. From his childhood, the start of his career, 2011 and 2007 T20 World Cup wins, his relationship with Shah Rukh Khan, on the controversy between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli; on the current Indian team; then to his political career with BJP
5 most important statements made by Gautam Gambhir in the podcast with Smita Prakash:
Gambhir on the role of broadcasters
Once again Gautam Gambhir spoke against the over-glorification of individuals by the broadcasters, which led to other players being “under shown” and “underappreciated”. Cricket broadcasters over the years have excessively eulogised two-three players while sidelining others. Gambhir spoke on the PR machinery.
“If today I have machinery and I have to pick two persons where I show one person for two hours and fifty minutes and the other person for 10 minutes only, then a person shown for 2 hours and 50 minutes will become a brand,” Gambhir said.
“A broadcaster can never be a PR machinery. The broadcaster needs to be fair to everyone sitting in the dressing room. If I have a machinery today, using which I show one of two players for 2 hours and 50 minutes and the other player for only 10 minutes out of 3 hours, whichever player is shown the longest will become the brand.”
On the future of Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20I team
There are uncertainties whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both aged over 35, will feature in next year’s T20 World Cup. Gautam Gambhir believes if their form during the IPL 2024 is good, then they should be selected.
“See, it all depends on the form. Ultimately, it’s the form. Good thing is it’s happening after the IPL. 100 percent. They should be part of the World Cup if they are in good form. For me, form is important. For a T20 World Cup, you want to take players who are in really good form. If Rohit and Virat are in good form, they should absolutely be picked for the World Cup,” Gambhir opined.
Gautam Gambhir slams trollers of PM Modi, who called Modi as “Panauti”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was called “panauti” by a certain section of individuals after India lost the World Cup final in Modi’s attendance.
“The word that was used, ‘panauti’, it is probably the worst word that could’ve been used against anyone, particularly a prime minister of this country. In the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final, Dr. Manmohan Singh was there. Had we lost that match and he had come to meet us, what would’ve been wrong in that?,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Gambhir on Naveen-ul-Haq vs Kohli fight
Gambhir said that he will defend and take the side of his own team’s player, when nudged about supporting Naveen in his fight with Virat Kohli during the IPL.
Gambhir said: “As a mentor, no one can come and walk over my players and I’ve got a very different belief. Till the time game was on, I had no right to interfere but once the game was over, if someone still gets into a heated argument with my players, I’ve got all the rights to defend them.”
Gambhir reveals interesting story of 2011 World Cup final
Gambhir revealed that he wasn’t even padded up when Sehwag got out in the first over in the 2011 World Cup final. He said he didn’t get much time to think anything due to Sehwag’s wicket, and that was a blessing in disguise for him.
“I had not even padded up when Virender Sehwag got out. He took a referral, so I got one or two minutes to get ready. By the time I realized, I was actually facing Lasith Malinga. Sometimes you are not even thinking about the occasion. When you are waiting for your turn and know it is a World Cup final, [you tend to think] ‘what if I fail?’. By the time I had any thought in my head, I was facing Lasith Malinga.
“When Sachin Tendulkar got out, I remember one thing that came in my mind: ’till the time I am there, India is winning’. That is the belief I always had: irrespective of whether we lose two, three, or four wickets, till the time I am batting till the 50th over, India will not lose the game,” he added.
Watch the full podcast here:
