After a recent video showing India’s cricket legend Kapil Dev being handcuffed emerged on social media, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed concern about Dev’s well-being. The video depicted Dev being forcibly led into a room by two unidentified men, leading netizens to question its authenticity, speculating whether it was a genuine incident or an elaborate advertising stunt.
Gautam Gambhir subsequently took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the context behind the video. “Anyone else received this clip, too? Hope it’s not actually @therealkapildev and that Kapil Paaji is fine!,” Gambhir initially posted on X.
Anyone else received this clip, too? Hope it’s not actually @therealkapildev 🤞and that Kapil Paaji is fine! pic.twitter.com/KsIV33Dbmp
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 25, 2023
It has now been revealed that the video was part of a promotional shoot for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India.
ALSO READ: Aaron Finch Unsure About R Ashwin’s Place In India’s Final 15 For World Cup
“Areh @therealkapildev paaji well played! Acting ka World Cup bhi aap hi jeetoge! Ab hamesha yaad rahega ki ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is free on @DisneyPlusHS mobile,” Gambhir shared on Tuesday.
Areh @therealkapildev paaji well played! Acting ka World Cup 🏆 bhi aap hi jeetoge! Ab hamesha yaad rahega ki ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is free on @DisneyPlusHS mobile pic.twitter.com/755RVcpCgG
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) September 26, 2023
.@therealkapildev paaji ko kidnap kyun karna? #DisneyPlusHotstar hai na!
Dekho poora ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup bilkul FREE on mobile! Data saver mode ke saath!#ItnaSabFreeKa #WorldCupOnHotstar pic.twitter.com/LcoEcr3Iub
— Disney+ Hotstar (@DisneyPlusHS) September 26, 2023
The video is a clever way to promote the World Cup, as it taps into the nostalgia and reverence that fans have for Kapil Dev. It is also a reminder of India’s glorious cricketing history, and the excitement that surrounds the World Cup.
Kapil Dev is one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. He played 131 Test matches for India, scoring 5,248 runs and he also picked up 438 wickets in the longest format of the game. In One-Day Internationals, the all-rounder represented the country in 225 games, picking up 253 wickets and smashing 3,783 runs.
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh Backs Suryakumar Yadav For Crucial Role In World Cup Campaign
Dev captained India to their maiden World Cup victory in 1983, defeating the West Indies in the final. He is a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, and retired from international cricket in 1994. The ODI World Cup will be held in India from October 11 to November 13, 2023. It will be the first time that India has hosted the tournament since 2011.
