The former India cricketer, Gautam Gambhir announced his retirement last week and acknowledged that he has no personal issues with former India skipper MS Dhoni. He has represented India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is for India scoring more than 10000 runs across formats. He made his debut in 2003 and last played for India in a Test against England in Rajkot in 2016. He retires with nine Test tons and 11 ODI centuries to his name.
Gambhir played a crucial role during India World Cup campaign in 2007 and 2011 respectively. He was the highest run-scorer with the scores of 75 and 97 runs respectively in the finals. The southpaw in a video statement acknowledged that the plan of retirement was on his mind since long. However, the poor performance in IPL 2018, when he returned to Delhi Daredevils (DD), made him decide that his time was up.
During a recent interview, Gautam spoke extensively about his relationship with MS Dhoni. He also noted there were no problems with Dhoni at least from his side.
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As per the reports in India Today, Gambhir said, “There were differences of opinion with Dhoni, I used to play cricket differently and I had different ideas. But when your vision and objective is the same, to help India win, then I don’t think we had any major differences. I didn’t have any problems with Dhoni, there weren’t any from my side.”
The southpaw also cited that he has spent some of the best moments of his career together in their career winning the two major trophies together.
Gambhir said, “I don’t think I will ever have any personal issues with him. I and Dhoni have enjoyed some of the best moments of Indian cricket inside the dressing room. We won the T20 World Cup (2007), we became the number one Test team, we won the 2011 World Cup, the CB Series, drew the South Africa Test series, won the Asia Cup.”
Gambhir had revealed that Dhoni had considered the idea of not playing him in the CB series of 2012 along with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar together in the final XI to give youngsters a chance ahead of the 2015 World Cup. In the same interview with India Today, the southpaw revealed how it was a “massive shock” to know that the team for the 2015 World Cup was being selected in 2012.
Here’s how people lashed out at Gautam for his remarks on Dhoni:
Even if Dhoni made changes in 2012 series. It paid of as India lifted Champions Trophy in 2013. I have a lot of respect for you Gambhir. Don't make it go away like this. https://t.co/JNquJvT8E6
— Abbas Haider (@abbas_haiderr) December 9, 2018
I honestly wish good for you post retirement but common man stop being such a big hypocrite, you say Dhoni is the best captain you have ever played under in an interview and than in the next interview you give out such statementshttps://t.co/j7GrbyaxR0
— Preeti (@pree042) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/Prakash61682180/status/1071657141365166080
Gautam Gambhir claims to be an 'honest' man but he chose to criticize MS Dhoni, selectors etc after his retirement. So, he certainly wasn't honest to them all these years
— Hari Sadanandan (@iamharry_88) December 9, 2018
Year 2050, Rainy Season:
Gautam Gambhir :
''All these rains are because of Dhoni. He was not as honest as me towards the nature & nature got angry and taking revenge back on us. This is a massive shock to me. Dhoni shouldn't have done this"
— MSD Zealot! (@Vidyadhar_7) December 9, 2018
Gambhir has been great player for India . I don't mean to Disrespect whatever he has done for the country . His contribution is immensely valuable , But this is blaming Dhoni for not doing anything particularly wrong .
— Prajwal (@SupremelyShady) December 9, 2018
Gambhir phir se Dhoni ke piche pad gaya. Dhoni's decision was absolutely right . If you cant digest a Long term decision that's your problem . IPL se captaincy experts ban jate hai Saab .
— Prajwal (@SupremelyShady) December 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sajjanlaunda/status/1071611173915639809
LMAO How these Gambhir , Harbhajan , Yuvi trio still being salty about Dhoni 🤣🤣https://t.co/zjUJIvYSH8
— Rahul(Fan Account) (@RahulM45_) December 9, 2018