Gautam Gambhir reveals how he was banned by the match referee because of Gary Kirsten

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is known for his outspoken behaviour. He bid adieu to international cricket back in 2018. But he keeps hogging the spotlight on several occasions due to his statements given in the media. Now, he has come up with another strange revelation that once he got banned due to Gary Kirsten, the former World Cup-winning coach.

The 38-year-old played some match defining and memorable knocks for his national team that holds a special place in fans heart. He played a vital knock of 75 runs in 2007 ICC T20I World Cup against Pakistan that helped Team India in winning their maiden title. Later on, he smacked 97 runs in the 50 over mega-event back in 2011 that helped Team India to lift the World Cup after long 27 years.

Gautam Gambhir shared an incident where didn’t listen to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly

He was player of the finals and was one of the best Indian openers in the Indian cricket history. But, his talent was overshadowed by controversies and one of them happened back in 2008. The incident happened during the third Test against Australia of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

At that time, Gambhir was playing in his prime form because of which Australia all-rounder Shane Watson started sledging him on the opening day of the game. Gambhir couldn’t hold it back and while taking a run the left-handed batsman stuck out his elbow that hit the Australian. Later on, Chris Broad the match referee handed him with a one-match ban because he was found guilty under the ICC Code of Conduct.

In a recent interview, the former Indian opener explained how it all happened. Gambhir revealed that every senior player in the team like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly told him not to accept any claims in front of the match referee. But, while he was going to meet the match official, Gary Kirsten, who was the coach at that time, advised him to accept his fault. He also added Kirsten had said to him that the match referee was a nice person and would not take any strict over his actions.

But, as soon as he accepted his mistake, match referee banned him from playing the final Test that was scheduled to be played in Nagpur.“Everyone told me not to accept my mistake. It was just my first or second meeting with the match referee and everyone including the seniors told me not to accept the mistake. But as I was going to match referee’s room, Gary told me to accept the mistake,” the former Indian opener said while in an interview given to The Lallantop.

Gambhir ended being leading run-scorer in the Test series against Australia. He amassed 463 runs in three matches with two tons and one half-century.

Here is the video: