Former Indian cricketer and World Cup hero Gautam Gambhir posted a heartfelt Tweet for India’s Air Force ace pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded the prestigious Vir Chakra.
On Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the Vir Chakra to Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman who, in 2019, shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27, a day after India had conducted an airstrike on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) camp in Pakistan’s Balakot.
Abhinandan Varthaman was a part of the Srinagar-based 51 squadron and had flown to prevent an aerial attack launched by the Pakistanis on February 27th, 2019. In the process, Abhinandan flew over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and his MiG-21 was hit, because of which he had to eject over the territory controlled by the enemy.
He was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army. Due to the extensive pressure exerted by the Indian side along with international intervention into the matter, the Pakistan Army was forced to release him with due respect.
Abhinandan received the third-highest wartime gallantry award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi for showing “conspicuous courage”. “Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemy’s tactics, Abhinandan scanned the low altitude airspace with his airborne intercept (AI) radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter interceptor aircraft,” Abhinandan’s citation reads.
“However, in the melee, one of the enemy aircraft fired multiple advanced BVR missiles, one of which hit his aircraft forcing him to eject in enemy territory,” the citation further states.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir took to his Twitter and posted a heartfelt Tweet for Abhinandan Varthaman, In his tweet, Gambhir congratulated Abhinandan and called him his brother. He wrote:
“He is my BROTHER! Jai Hind ?? #Congratulations”
Here, check out the tweet:
He is my BROTHER! Jai Hind ?? #Congratulations pic.twitter.com/76U1JGHX4H
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) November 22, 2021
Gambhir’s tweet was also a fitting reply to former Indian cricketer and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who recently declared that the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is like an elder brother to him.
(Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Tears Apart Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Love For Pakistan)
