A couple of months ago, Ravichandran Ashwin remarked that Gautam Gambhir is “a very misunderstood person.”
Ashwin explained that Gambhir’s serious demeanor often leads to misinterpretation, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Despite his reputation as a tough competitor and a two-time World Cup winner, much of this misunderstanding stems from his history with Virat Kohli.
From teammates to IPL rivals, and now coach and player, Gambhir and Kohli have come full circle. Though they’ve publicly buried the hatchet, as Kohli said, fans still seek “masala” in their relationship.
Piyush Chawla shared an anecdote that highlights Gambhir’s respect for Kohli’s game. After Kohli’s stellar 2023 World Cup performance, scoring over 700 runs, including his 50th century, Gambhir—part of the broadcasting team—was keenly attentive.
During a show, a trivia question about Kohli’s milestone came up. Chawla recalled, “I couldn’t answer, but Gambhir did. He said, ‘Now don’t say there’s any tiff. Gauti bhai is all class.'”
Chawla, who has known Gambhir for years, emphasized Gambhir’s unique qualities.
“Gauti bhai will motivate you, give you a free hand, and back you completely if he believes in your talent—even if you underperform,” Chawla said. He added that Gambhir’s on-field aggression contrasts with his off-field politeness, calling him “one of the best humans I’ve come across.”