"I Was Removed, Virat Kohli Was Made Vice-Captain...": Gautam Gambhir's Video With 'MS Dhoni' Reference Resurfaces, Goes Viral

12.12.2023 - 11:55 sports.ndtv.com

Gautam Gambhir is a straight and honest talker. He has never shied away from making honest comments, even if that has led to controversies.

The former Indian cricket team opener, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams, was never a skipper for the national side.

However, in the IPL he led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title. Recently an old video went viral on the social media, where Gautam Gambhir could be seen talking about his removed as vice-captain after India failed to qualify for the final of the CB series.

The interview was done by Lallantop YouTube channel a couple of years ago, and was re-shared by them on Monday. "The CB series that was talking about, India did not qualify for the final, Australia and Sri Lanka did.

cricket India Cricket Team MS Dhoni Virat Kohli Gautam Gambhir Australia India Sri Lanka Bangladesh

After a crushing loss against South Africa in the first Test, the Indian cricket team is gearing up for the second and final match that starts on Wednesday in Cape Town. For India it's a do-or-die match if they are to draw the series. In the first Test, Dean Elgar hit 185 while the South African bowlers were on song too as India crumbled to a loss by innings and 32 runs. The second Test gives them an opportunity to set the record straight.

From Pat Cummins To Virat Kohli, A Look At Best Cricketers Of 2023

Though cricket is a team sport, it is individual performances that make or mar teams. It is often individuals who are glorified as 'King' or 'God' or tarred as villains depending on victories or losses. Though fans admire their national teams, one or two players are absolute hot favourites and are followed closely. Slowly and steadily, the fanbases of individual players unravel themselves on social media and inside cricketing arenas. 2023 was no different.

Not Virat Kohli Or Shubman Gill! England Great Calls This India Star "Box Office Cricketer"

Former England captain Nasser Hussain is hopeful of a successful return of "box office" cricketer Rishabh Pant in 2024 following his recovery from the near-fatal car crash a year back. It was on a fateful December night in 2022 when Pant suffered a horrific car accident. The wicketkeeper batter has made strong progress since then and is likely to return to cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup in USA and the West Indies. "That was such a serious accident. The whole world held its breath and it has been a slow recovery,” Hussain was quoted as saying by the ICC. "You follow on social media, on my phone and the initial first walking steps to then scenes in the gym and then scenes of him playing a bit of cricket, scenes of him with Ricky (Ponting)."

"Why Is Virat Kohli Not India Captain?": Ex-CSK, RCB Star's Strongly Worded 'Valid Question'

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath wants star batter Virat Kohli to lead the team in Test cricket. His comments came after India lost to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test in Centurion last Thursday. Kohli had relinquished his Test captaincy during the same tour two years back, paving way for Rohit Sharma to become the new skipper in the longest format of the game. Rohit also replaced Kohli as India's full-time captain last year.

Watch: KL Rahul Brings Up Century With A Six, Virat Kohli's Reaction Says It All

With Team India's backs against the wall, upstepped KL Rahul to deliver one of the finest innings of his career. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer all faltered on a tricky pitch as India took on South Africa in 1st Test of the 2-match series. Rahul, forging little partnerships with lower-middle order batters and tailenders, registered his 8th Test century to take India to a respectable first innings total of 245 runs.

"Pressure Will Be On Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma...": Gautam Gambhir's Warning 'If Batters Don't Put Runs' vs South Africa

As India eye a first Test series win in South Africa, former opener Gautam Gambhir feels the pressure will be star batter Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma. India have never won a Test series in South Africa, but came close to doing so during their last tour. After winning the first Test, India conceded the series 2-1, with Kohli missing the second Test due to an injury. Gambhir reckons the onus will be on Rohit and Kohli to deliver the goods with the bat for India, adding that the star batters can take the pressure of the Indian bowlers on tricky South African conditions.