The Gautam Gambhir Impact: The BCCI recently confirmed that they will not be taking alcohol and tobacco companies to bid for Team India’s title sponsorship. And fans have reason to believe that Gautam Gambhir‘s strong words against the ex-cricketers who endorsed tobacco-filled Pan Masala could have also influenced this stand by the BCCI.
After ending the deal with Byjus, the board is in search of their next title sponsor for the Indian cricket team. However, the BCCI announced that some of the companies that sell alcohol and tobacco, and those that are betting, cryptocurrency, and pornographic companies are prohibited from taking part in bidding for the title sponsor. The BCCI in its statement stated that basically, brands that can “offend public morals” won’t be allowed to be associated with Team India.
Senior journalist Madhav Sharma hailed the monologue from Gautam Gambhir for influencing this move by the BCCI
“Look at the impact of @GautamGambhir ’s statement. The @BCCI has come out openly and banned Tobacco companies from associating with Team India. Now all those cricketers who are endorsing Tobacco brands must back off & apologise.
“Thank you, GG for leading from the front always,” Madhav Sharma tweeted.
A few days ago, former India batsman Gambhir had called the endorsing of Pan Masala by the likes of Virender Sehwag, Kapil Dev, and Sunil Gavaskar “disgusting” and “disappointing”.
The legendary Indian trio had signed a deal with an Indian tobacco brand and did advertisements for them that ran on national television. This provoked the ire of the fans who slammed the trio.
India’s 2011 World Cup final hero lashed out at them, adding that they are idols of younger generations and asked whether money is the driving factor in endorsing such tobacco brands.
Speaking to News18, Gambhir said, “It’s disgusting and disappointing. That is why I say, choose your role models carefully. One gets recognised not by their name, but by the work they do. Crores of kids are watching. Money is not that important that you will end of doing a Pan Masala ad. In 2018, when I had stepped down from Delhi Capitals captaincy, I had given up INR 3 crores. I could have taken it, but I left it because I always believe that I should get what I deserve. Sachin Tendulkar was offered 20-30 crores but said no to these pan masala ads. He had promised his father that he would never engage in such stuff, which is why he is a role model,” he said.
