I play for India, not ex-players: Gambhir

[Karan114]

I play for India, not ex-players: Gambhir Jun 1, 2010, 01.13am IST There is a feeling that there was not enough disappointment within your team after the loss in the T20 World Cup... I don't know why people get that impression. Any World Cup loss is huge and it stings. Just because we don't show our emotions does not mean we are not affected by the loss. But were you expecting this backlash? We knew that the fans would be disappointed but some criticism was exaggerated. How can a team that is No. 1 in Tests and No. 2 in ODIs be admonished like this? How can one bad tournament take everything away? But India failed to win even a single game in two consecutive Super 8s... It is embarrassing but then this is the team that won the first World Cup after 1983 (2007), won a ODI tournament in Australia for the first time (CB Series in 2007) since the 1985 Benson & Hedges Cup, won an ODI series in New Zealand for the first time and a Test series after almost 40 years, beat England at home 5-0, came back from behind to win a Test series against South Africa. After this latest loss people said we could not handle the pace and bounce at Barbados. If that was the case, how do you think we won in Durban (2007, T20 World Cup), at Melbourne or in New Zealand? India's T20 form has been mediocre... Maybe, but then in this format you have to attack at all times. When you are chasing 190-odd like we did against Australia you can't be ducking or swaying to bouncers. You are chasing almost nine runs per over against the likes of Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait. One ex-captain said Gambhir is good only for pitches like Delhi or Kanpur.... I've heard worse. The same people once said that I was not good enough to play for India, now they at least believe I can play on certain tracks! You know what hurts me the most? The fact that we could not make the Tricolour proud in an international arena. Indian cricket is now ready to take the next big step. We have started winning abroad, now we need to win multi-nation tournaments. I play for the ordinary fan and not for ex-cricketers or the media. I believe one Shaun Tait snorter left a crack on the bat but you are continuing to use it for some reason... Yeah, it is there on the shoulder of my main match bat. I am using it because I want to keep reminding myself that I had an ordinary World Cup. Just a motivation thing, really. Some people also thought MS Dhoni's captaincy was off-colour... This is the same Dhoni who in the IPL final plotted Pollard's dismissal by having him caught by Hayden at an undorthodox midoff. The fact that Dhoni could think in that pressure situation was commendable and at that time he was called 'Captain Cool' and what not. How can he become redundant within a fortnight? He has done well as captain. How much would you blame the IPL? It is misleading to think IPL played any part. We got about 10 days after the finals, which is good enough to recharge. IPL is one of the best things to have happened to Indian cricket. I don't think IPL parties too had an impact on the defeat, though I don't party. I have heard there will be no parties next season. I'm fine with that. (The author of the interview Dinesh Chopra works for ESPN's Sportscentre) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/interviews/I-play-for-India-not-ex-players-Gambhir/articleshow/5996365.cms

[punjabi_khota]

This is ONE guy for sure who plays with pride...:clap:

[mastana]

This is ONE guy for sure who plays with pride...:clap:

And Yuvraj plays with paratha. :clap:

[zen]

some good responses by Gambhir

[Zap_Brannigan]

Fkinf idiots think that India has to win everything...There is too many formats and tournaments and we will have a few bad ones and a few good ones. The reporter and some fans only look at the tournaments and others look at only the tournaments won.

[achilles]

Gambhir sounds very annoyed. But he makes sense.

[thevortex]

I like Gambhir's frank talk. Though I would love to hear Sehwag speak on this subject. I am sure he is bound to come up some absolute gems!:)

[Ranjha]

lol at the gambhir mood of gambhir.... Durban in 2007 t20 wc was a fast track? lol...I have heard it all now.

[Jersey #10]

Gambhir got "Gambhir" during the discussion Boss Gautam, now it's time to get "Gambhir" about the game and bring the form back. Let's win the WC11 for The lord...

[saneindian]

High time some player came out and gave it back to these jokers who did nothing during their times but keep talking trash about the current generation. The most appaling is to see buffoons like Maninder Singh, LSRK, Kirti Azad etc talk about disciplined life, focus and temprament. Criticism is one thing, but what these jokers do sitting in TV studiois talking with some overzealous dumb TV anchors is downright pathetic. In fact I want Dhoni to come out and fire against these ex players. Could put a lid on many loudmouths, at least for the time being.

[Aaku]

I play for India' date= not ex-players: Gambhir Jun 1, 2010, 01.13am IST One ex-captain said Gambhir is good only for pitches like Delhi or Kanpur.... I've heard worse. The same people once said that I was not good enough to play for India, now they at least believe I can play on certain tracks! You know what hurts me the most? The fact that we could not make the Tricolour proud in an international arena. Indian cricket is now ready to take the next big step. We have started winning abroad, now we need to win multi-nation tournaments. I play for the ordinary fan and not for ex-cricketers or the media. I believe one Shaun Tait snorter left a crack on the bat but you are continuing to use it for some reason... Yeah, it is there on the shoulder of my main match bat. I am using it because I want to keep reminding myself that I had an ordinary World Cup. Just a motivation thing, really.

I adooooooooooooooooore him !! :icflove: GG :clap:

[asterix]

Fkinf idiots think that India has to win everything...There is too many formats and tournaments and we will have a few bad ones and a few good ones. The reporter and some fans only look at the tournaments and others look at only the tournaments won.

Nobody expects them to win every matches. Nobody expects them to run slowly between the wickets. Nobody expects them to clash with other player and drop the catches..Nobody expectes them to play short balls like village level players..Nobody expects them to have the same bowling team and same bowling strategies. Nobody expects them to win ICC tournaments or atleast reach the semifinals. Yes, nobody should expect anything from them. This team will do exactly the same in ODI WC. Will be out before the business rounds. But we shouldn't expect everything from them. Because they are one of the top ranked team (currently) in Test and ODIs and only that ranking matters. Doing well in ICC tournaments doesn't matters.

[saneindian]

Nobody expects them to win every matches. Nobody expects them to run slowly between the wickets. Nobody expects them to clash with other player and drop the catches..Nobody expectes them to play short balls like village level players..Nobody expects them to have the same bowling team and same bowling strategies. Nobody expects them to win ICC tournaments or atleast reach the semifinals. Yes, nobody should expect anything from them. This team will do exactly the same in ODI WC. Will be out before the business rounds. But we shouldn't expect everything from them. Because they are one of the top ranked team (currently) in Test and ODIs and only that ranking matters. Doing well in ICC tournaments doesn't matters.

Looks like the wrist slitters have already got their wishlist ready so that they can get down to their usual business of name calling once again.

[Aaku]

^ :giggle:

[DomainK]

He is a no nonsense guy. I agree with everything he said.

[S.Bond]

He looksgoodbut yet needtoproovehimselfabroad... He hasa 31 test career and has never played in england, australia, south africa west indies.... In one day his performance have been poor agaisnt the top sides execpt from one : sri lanka...