India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final sparked a controversy with some politicians criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the stadium and dressing room. Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has come to Modi’s defense, calling the criticism “unwarranted” and the word “panauti” used against him “unacceptable.”
Following India’s defeat, Prime Minister Modi visited the team’s dressing room to boost morale. While this gesture was appreciated by many, some politicians, including Sanjay Jha and Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammad, questioned the timing of his visit, suggesting it brought bad luck.
ALSO READ: South Africa Lose Lungi Ngidi To Injury Ahead Of Crucial T20I Series Against India
But former cricketer Gautam Gambhir strongly defended PM Modi, stating that such criticism is unfair and disrespectful. He compared Modi’s visit to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s presence during the high-voltage India-Pakistan semi-final in the 2011 World Cup, stating that both visits were meant to boost the team’s morale and shouldn’t be politicized.
EP-120 with Gautam Gambhir premieres on Saturday at 5 PM IST
“No one can come and walk over my players,” Gautam Gambhir on Naveen-ul-Haq controversy#ANIPodcastwithSmitaPrakash #GautamGambhir #Dhoni
Tune in here: https://t.co/LLgzRg3fCS pic.twitter.com/mHhRROyn4S
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2023
Gautam Gambhir further highlighted the hypocrisy of those criticizing Modi, pointing out that Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was also present for the final and no controversy was raised. He questioned why Modi’s visit was singled out for criticism.
Gambhir urged everyone to focus on the team’s performance rather than indulging in unnecessary political mudslinging. He stated that such negativity doesn’t help the team and only creates unnecessary distractions.
ALSO READ: Paras Mhambrey comments on Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli resting for series against SA
In conclusion, while India’s World Cup loss was undoubtedly disappointing, using it to attack the Prime Minister is not only unfair but also politically motivated. Gambhir’s comments serve as a much-needed reminder to keep politics out of sports and focus on supporting the team rather than engaging in petty controversies
