Almost in all of India’s nine group stage games, there is focus on only one guy – Virat Kohli. Be it him equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, or about him winning yet another home World Cup. Kohli is hogging the limelight in all of Star Sports pre-game shows. For Kohli fans, it may be great to see him everywhere, but not for Gautam Gambhir, who always believes there should be focus on the team rather than individual player.
In a video that is going viral, Gambhir did not hold back and was seen spitting facts. “If you score a fifty, I score a fifty, and the broadcaster are only showing me, then that other player will be called an underrated player. Who makes a player underrated? It is fans, broadcasters, and experts that make it. We are not winning ICC events for a long time because we are obsessed with individual records rather than the team,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir knows a thing or two about being an underrated player, as his contribution to India winning the 50-Over World Cup in 2011 is not talked about in the same breath as MS Dhoni’s match-winning unbeaten 91. Gambhir’s 97 was equally instrumental in India winning the WC after 28 years. However, it’s been a decade since the Men in Blue laid hands in the Cup.
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During 2013-2023, India featured in nine ICC events but failed to cross the line in the final stages. Gambhir feels the team is not being credited enough, and there is focus only on Kohli.
Gautam Gambhir takes another dig at Virat Kohli
While there is no doubt that Kohli has contributed immensely to India winning all nine matches in the group stage of the World Cup, there has also been vast contributions from Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja & KL Rahul. All these players have fired collectively. However, broadcasters and fans have not focused on these players, and it is Kohli who is grabbing eyeballs.
Gambhir, though has time and again lauded the efforts of Rohit Sharma in the powerplay and has termed him as a selfless leader. Speaking about India, they have yet another chance of winning the World Cup after storming into the semis. They will next take on New Zealand tomorrow in Mumbai.