Gautam Gambhir Invokes Manmohan Singh’s 2011 Reference in Response to “Panauti” Jibe at PM Modi

Indian Cricket Team Receives Visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi After World Cup Loss

Following their heartbreaking loss against Australia in the Cricket World Cup 2023, the Indian cricket team received a surprise visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the dressing room. PM Modi’s intention was to boost the team’s morale, including the veteran players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While many applauded PM Modi’s decision to interact with the players after the disappointing result in the summit clash, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comment during an election rally sparked a major controversy.

The controversy quickly became a hot topic on social media. Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer-turned-politician, expressed his disagreement with Gandhi’s remark. Gambhir even brought up the example of the 2011 World Cup semi-final, where Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India, attended the match between India and Pakistan in Mohali.

Gambhir stated in an interview with ANI, “The word that was used, ‘panauti’, it is probably the worst word that could’ve been used against anyone, particularly a prime minister of this country. In the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final, Dr. Manmohan Singh was there. Had we lost that match and he had come to meet us, what would’ve been wrong in that?”

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s comment received widespread criticism. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad described Gandhi’s remarks about the Prime Minister as “shameful, condemnable, and disgraceful.” Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar also condemned Gandhi’s comments, calling them a sign of desperation and mental instability.

The incident has sparked a debate about the appropriate behavior and language when discussing political figures and their involvement in sports events. The controversy highlights the intersection of politics and sports, and the impact it can have on the morale of athletes.

Topics mentioned in this article: Cricket World Cup, Indian cricket team, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Gandhi, Gautam Gambhir.