Gautam Gambhir minced no words and hit back at former Indian cricketers, who are currently doing commentary, as he responded to the contestant criticism he has faced since taking charge of the Indian team as head coach last year. Gambhir pointed out that he was criticised by a renowned name over the prize money he received post India’s Champions Trophy win.
Photo : AP
Two months after India won the 2025 Champions Trophy, Gautam Gambhir lashed out at former cricketers and cricket commentators over criticism against him over various issues, including the prize money he received after the triumph from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Gambhir replaced Dravid in the top job last year, and his tenure got off to a rocky start as India lost a home Test series for the first time in 12 years after an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand. Later, Australia beat India 3-0 to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) after a decade before a dramatic turnaround to win the Champions Trophy.
Speaking on the ABP India 2047 summit, Gamhir claimed that he was fine with criticism against him if the team is not producing results, but slammed the commentators for treating the Indian team as their family fiefdom. The Indian head coach did not takes names but slammed the former Indian cricketers over becoming Non-Resident Indians (NRI) to avoid taxes.
“It has only been eight months since I took over. I am fine with criticism. It is people’s job to do that. However, there are some people who are sitting in the commentatory box for 25 years. They question everything I do. They think Indian cricket is their personal property. Indian cricket is the identity of 140 crore Indian,”
“They questioned my coaching, records, concussion as well as the prize money I got for winning Champions Trophy. I do not need to tell this country where I left money and where I put it. This country needs to know that these people have been NRI for so many years. They work and earn money from the country but take it outside. I am an Indian and will be an Indian till my last breath. I will not become an NRI to save tax,” said Gambhir.
“I will not take names. It is your job. You search and tell people who is an NRI for how many years. Those whose houses are not even made of glass but of leaves should think a lakh times before throwing stones at someone else’s houses,” Gambhir added.
