Gautam Gambhir, a key player in Bharat’s 2011 ODI World Cup win, shared his perspective on his past heated exchange with Shahid Afridi, emphasizing that he moved on from it long ago. In an interview, Gambhir expressed frustration with the media for consistently highlighting his altercation with Afridi before every ‘Bharat vs Pakistan’ match. He urged them to focus on positive moments, such as Bharat’s victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.
Gambhir and Afridi have a history of on-field rivalry, with a notable incident in 2009 during an ODI in Kanpur. The rivalry continued in 2023 during the Legends League Cricket (LLC), where Gambhir led Bharat Maharajas, and Afridi led Asia Lions. Despite their history, a moment of sportsmanship between them went viral on social media when Afridi checked on Gambhir after the latter was hit while batting.
In the interview, Gambhir criticized the media for being fixated on numbers and emphasized the importance of showing positive aspects of the game. He noted that constantly showcasing the same negative incidents could have a detrimental effect.
Discussing his past brawl with Afridi, Gambhir clarified that he has moved on from it and is fine with the media’s focus on it if they choose to do so. He highlighted that as a player, he couldn’t control what broadcasters decide to show, but he could contribute by winning games and remaining passionate about representing his team or franchise.
Gambhir recalled an infamous ODI match in 2007 between Bharat and Pakistan, where a heated exchange occurred between him and Afridi after a boundary. The on-field umpires had to intervene to calm the situation. Despite the past conflicts, Gambhir emphasized his focus on moving forward and being accountable to the teams he represents.
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