Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has slammed people in India who were bursting crackers after India lost to Pakistan in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2021, on Sunday, Oct 24. India suffered their first-ever defeat in a World Cup game to Pakistan, who won by 10 wickets.
Some parts of India saw people celebrating Pakistan’s victory by bursting crackers and several of those took to social media to abuse the Indian cricketers with Virat Kohli and Mohammad Shami being picked out specifically.
As reactions continue to come in from former cricketers over the incidents that have taken place in the aftermath of India's defeat. Gautam Gambhir, who isn't known to mince his words, has reacted strongly to both incidents.
Speaking on the subject of firecrackers being burst in different parts of India after Pakistan's win, Gambhir said that such people can't call themselves Indians. “Those bursting crackers on Pak winning can’t be Indian! We stand by our boys! #shameful”, Gambhir tweeted.
Gambhir further expressed his anger at those bursting crackers, calling the act shameful and unacceptable.
Speaking to India Today, Gambhir said, “It's shameful. You live in a country and are called an Indian but when another country wins or Pakistan wins, you start bursting crackers. This is absolutely unacceptable. People who have burst those crackers, cannot call themselves Indians.”
He was also not impressed by miscreants abusing India captain Virat Kohli and Mohammad Shami on social media.
“Staggering amounts of money”, Warne and Vaughan amazed by whopping bids for two new IPL teams
He said: “It is absolutely disgusting when you target an individual, whether he is the captain or someone who is from another community. Ultimately, it is a team, it is a nation. Players like Kohli and Shami have done fabulous things for the country, have won so many games for us, have made the country proud.
Targeting certain individuals in a team sport is not acceptable. In a nation like India, you win together, you lose together and that is what I want to say to every Indian. Support your players, they will definitely turn it around.”
India will next take on Afghanistan on November 3 in Abu Dhabi.
