'He's the most misunderstood cricketer in India': R Ashwin opens up Gambhir's attitude

In a cricket-crazy nation like India, cricketers often bear the brunt of intense scrutiny and emotions from fans and the media. One such cricketer who has been a subject of both adulation and criticism is Gautam Gambhir. Recently, star Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to express his views on Gambhir, calling him the "most misunderstood cricketer in India." This statement comes in the wake of an on-field spat between Gambhir and Virat Kohli, which garnered immense attention and controversy on social media.

3 things you need to know

• Ashwin will next be seen playing for India in the Cricket World Cup 2023
• Ashwin was picked in the Indian World Cup squad at the last moment
• Ashwin was also part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team with Gambhir

Also Read: R Ashwin Reaches Out To Laxman Sivaramakrishnan After His Controversial 'fool' Remark

R Ashwin on Gautam Gambhir

Ravichandran Ashwin's statement shines a light on Gautam Gambhir's contributions to Indian cricket beyond the controversies and heated moments on the field. He described Gambhir as the "greatest team man" and argued that people often underestimate his selfless dedication to the team. 

"Gautam Gambhir is the most misunderstood cricketer in India. He's the greatest team man. People give him much lesser credit than he deserves, he was a selfless individual always thinking about the team," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. 

Gautam Gambhir, a southpaw from Delhi, made his debut for the Indian cricket team in 2003. Over the years, he established himself as one of India's most reliable openers, forming successful partnerships with the likes of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. Gambhir played a pivotal role in India's victory in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

However, Gambhir's cricketing journey was not devoid of controversies and ups and downs. He was known for his fiery temperament on the field and his willingness to stand up for his teammates, even if it meant getting involved in heated exchanges with opponents.

Also Read: 'This Could Be My Last...': R Ashwin Makes A Bombshell Admission After World Cup Inclusion

The Gambhir-Kohli Spat

One such incident occurred during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match earlier this year when Gambhir, the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, had a heated altercation with Virat Kohli, who was playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The incident, which involved a clash of egos and a war of words, went viral and led to widespread criticism of Gambhir on social media. This was not the first time the duo was involved in a heated on-field clash. During an IPL 2013 match Gambhir and Kohli had an altercation when the former was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders and the latter was leading the RCB.