'Pahli bar mujhe GG se agree hona he' - Fans back Gautam Gambhir's 'our country is individual obsessed’ remark after India's loss in WTC final 2023

Gautam Gambhir (Source: Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir lashed out at Indian fans after the Men in Blue suffered another heartbreak at a major multinational tournament. India lost to Australia by 209 runs in the final of the second edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) at The Oval on Sunday. Gambhir pointed out that Indians are obsessed with individual players and not the entire team, and broadcasting and media networks play a major role in that.

"A lot of people won't say this but this is the truth and I think I should say this because it should come in front of the world: our country is not a team-obsessed country but an individual-obsessed country. In other countries, in England, Australia and New Zealand, the team is bigger than the individual," Gambhir said in an interview with News 18 network.

"All the stakeholders in Indian cricket, from the broadcaster and the media to everyone: all of them have been reduced to a PR agency. If the broadcasters won't give you the credit, you'll always be underrated. This is the biggest truth. This is why we haven't won a major tournament for so long because we are so obsessed with individuals," the left-hander added.

No one individual can win a big tournament: Gambhir

The mentor of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants has also taken an indirect shot at former India captain MS Dhoni for highlighting 'individualism'. Gambhir said Yuvraj Singh was India's best player in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, but he did not get any credit and all the attention went to "one individual".

"It's unfortunate that when we talk about the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, we don't take Yuvraj Singh's name. Why not? It's only and only marketing and PR and portraying one individual as the biggest and everyone else as smaller than him," he said.

"No one is underrated, it's all PR and marketing. We have been told who won us the 2007 and 2011 World Cups it was not one individual it was the entire team. No one individual can win a big tournament. If that was the case, India would've had 5-10 World Cups," the 41-year-old concluded.

Here's how fans reacted to Gautam Gambhir's statement:

There couldn’t have been a better way to put it. It’s the harsh reality and I’m glad someone said it so that the masses understand. Well, I hope they do

— SG (@Sarweshwer99) June 12, 2023

Even though the statement is painful but I do agree with Gambhir here. Before, the management had the courage to drop any player irrespective of their status which sadly isn't the case anymore. Now in the name of experience, we are watching mediocrity being applauded by many.

— Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) June 11, 2023

And he is from a party where one individual is GOD

and everyone else is nothing

Even the Country itself

— Atam Sidhu (@sidhu_atam) June 11, 2023

The very first time I have to agree with what Gambhir has said,this new gen has been so toxic.

— Mohammed Hanif (@Mohd0312) June 11, 2023

Bhai abhi bhi motm ke liye ro rahe hai😂😂😂

— Calma (@Kohlipedia) June 11, 2023

He is jealous coz he doesn't have a fanbase like kohli, dhoni and Sachin😹😹😹

— • (@WrldClass__) June 11, 2023

This time I completely agree with GG. The Larger than the game image has to be done away with.

— Sham Naik (@sham_naik) June 11, 2023

Individual obsession started with IPL!!!!!

— Hasanmuki (@haage_sumane) June 11, 2023

He is jealous because he doesn't have an individual fanbase. Crying everywhere😭

— Swathi. (@Nushkie18) June 11, 2023

He makes such statement and then cribs that he wasn’t recognized more for 2011 finals. All these statements are given coz we lost. I felt the team India looked strong with chances in the test. Reaching finals twice and being number 1 continues to say that team India has been…

— Prasad Bhojak (@BhojakPb) June 11, 2023