India head coach Gautam Gambhir has taken a firm stance on India-Pakistan cricket ties, stating that bilateral matches — and even ICC tournament games — should be halted until cross-border terrorism ends.
His comments come in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of several Indian soldiers and sparked renewed public debate around sporting relations between the two nations.
“No cricket match is more important than the life of Indian soldiers”
Speaking at the ‘India At 2047’ summit hosted by ABP News, Gambhir said:
“My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn’t stop there should not be anything between India and Pakistan.”
He emphasized that no sporting or cultural engagement — including cricket, Bollywood, or music — should proceed while acts of terrorism continue to claim innocent lives.
“Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family,” he added.
Decision ultimately lies with the government and BCCI
While Gambhir made his personal stance clear, he acknowledged that the final decision on participation in matches against Pakistan rests with the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“This is not up to me, this is for BCCI and more importantly the government to decide whether we should play them or not. Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it.”
Potential implications for upcoming ICC tournaments
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012 and currently face each other only in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup fixtures. With the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy</strong scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan and the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup approaching — a potential final major event for stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — Gambhir’s comments could have significant implications for the future of the sport’s most-watched rivalry.
As security concerns and political realities continue to shape cricket diplomacy, Gambhir’s message is clear: India vs Pakistan matches should not proceed without peace and safety for citizens and soldiers alike.
