'Nothing More Than A PR Agency...,' Gambhir Blasts India's 'Superstar' Culture After WTC Final Defeat
Gautam Gambhir [Image- IPLT20]
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes that the Indian cricket ecosystem is all about 'hero-worshipping" individual stars and not the entire team following a chastening defeat at the hands of Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final.
The Rohit Sharma-led unit was thoroughly outplayed by the Aussies in all facets of the game, ensuring that India's decade long wait to win an ICC trophy continues.
Once again, India's senior cricketers failed to come to the party with both the ball as well as with the bat, and the tactics and team selection from the leadership group left everyone baffled.
Speaking on News18, Gambhir came down heavily on the superstar culture in Indian cricket, while also taking potshots at the entire ecosystem for playing the role of PR for some cricketers.
"Maybe a lot of people won't say this, but I think I should say it because it's the truth of the matter, and a truth which should come up before the world. Our country is not a team-obsessed country - it is individual obsessed. Our country considers individuals to be greater than the team. In other countries, England, Australia, New Zealand, the team is great, the individual isn't."
"All the stakeholders of Indian cricket, from broadcasters to the media, ultimately and unfortunately are nothing more than a PR agency at this point. They will showcase only three people all day. If you score 50 runs and I score 50 runs, and I am shown on screens all day, the entire audience will think only I am the star. You will be called an 'underrated' player."
India last won an ICC trophy in 2013, and while they did win 3 Tests maces in between by virtue of being the No.1 side in the world, the consecutive defeats in the WTC finals have left a sour taste on their legacy.
 "Yash Mittal")
