Photo Credit: Facebook Photo of Gautam Gambhir
Indian Men’s Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has found himself at the center of a controversy after promoting an opinion and trading app, Real11, during the India vs. New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final. The tweet, posted on March 9, 2025, read, “Will India bag yet another Champions ODI trophy on the partnership of RO-KO*? Trade on Real11 and answer similar simple questions to win truckloads of prizes.” Along with the message, a graphic attached to the tweet promised users the chance to “Give your opinion and win up to ₹1 crore!”
The promotion quickly sparked overwhelming negative and strong reactions from the twitterverse, with many criticizing Gambhir for endorsing a platform linked to fantasy gaming and opinion trading, especially given his previous stance on such endorsements. The controversy intensified as users pointed out Gambhir’s past criticism of other cricketing figures who had endorsed similar platforms.
In 2022, Gambhir had harshly criticized then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly for endorsing fantasy league platforms, declaring, “No one should be allowed to endorse that,” in reference to betting, alcohol, and tobacco promotions. His comments back then were seen as a firm stand against the promotion of online betting and fantasy gaming.
Given this history, many social media users were quick to highlight the contradiction in Gambhir’s recent actions.
One user sarcastically remarked, “GG must be winning huge in bets being the coach of the same team you’re betting for.” Another quipped, “Khud coach hai aur humse pooch raha jeetegi ya nahi? (He is the coach himself and asking us whether they will win or not?)”
Others questioned the ethical implications of his promotion, asking, “Don’t you think this is morally wrong?”
As the debate unfolded on social media, netizens accused Gambhir of hypocrisy, with some pointing out that his stance on fantasy sports had clearly shifted.
One user commented, “Hypocrisy ki bhi seema hoti hai (There is a limit to hypocrisy),” reflecting the sentiment of many online.
While Gambhir has not yet responded to the backlash, the conversation continues to gain momentum, with many waiting to see if he will address the growing criticism or clarify his position on endorsing fantasy sports and real money gaming platforms.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
