'Gambhir's Reputation Is The Same...': Shahid Afridi Drops 'Bombshell'
Shahid Afridi checks up on Gautam Gambhir (Twitter)
The long-standing dynamic between cricketing legends, Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi has always oscillated between competition and contention. Originating from their fiery face-off during a 2007 ODI match, their differences have extended beyond the pitch, frequently diving into areas like politics.
Afridi reflects on Gambhir rivalry with a hint of admiration
However, a moment of unexpected camaraderie during the Legends League Cricket in March added a new chapter to their narrative. Although, Afridi's recent comments suggest that while there might be respect, some embers of rivalry still glow.
On a YouTube show, Afridi was quizzed about his equation with Gambhir. He candidly spoke of the mental tactics employed in the sport but was quick to set Gambhir apart from the crowd.
The Pakistan veteran stated that Gambhir's feisty nature wasn't exclusively directed at him; it was a trait the Indian batsman displayed with others too. Yet, Afridi, displaying a maturity characteristic of sports veterans, chose not to dwell on the past and urged for the conversation to lean towards positive direction.
“This things go on cricket. It's normal. And I feel it has been more hyped up in social media. Woh different kisam ka character hain, aam players se thoda alag hain (He has a different character from that of normal players). His reputation is the same in Team India as well. It is not like it was only with me...he...I feel we should discuss more positive things in this show," said Afridi.
When Saqib nudged Afridi to point out a commendable feature of Gambhir, Afridi applauded the former Indian batter’s exceptional batting skills.
“Very few Indian batters I seen having such good timing with the bat. He is an outstanding player,” added the erstwhile all-rounder," added the 46-year-old.
Notably, a heartwarming moment was captured in Doha during the Legends Cricket League. With Gambhir captaining the India Maharajas and Afridi leading the Asia Lions, a gesture of goodwill saw Afridi approaching Gambhir with genuine concern after the Indian was hit while batting, a moment that created a stir among fans and went viral.
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