'He kept calling me something very rude': S Sreesanth on argument with Gautam Gambhir in Legends League match

Former India cricketers S Sreesanth and Gautam Gambhir got into a heated argument and seemingly exchanged pointed words during a Legends League Cricket match between Gujarat Giants and India Capitals.

As players and umpires stepped in to ensure the on-field spat didn’t escelate, S Sreesanth presented his version of events in a video posted on Instagram. The former India seamer alleged that Gambhir called him “something very rude”.

“Just wanted to clear the air with what happened with Mr fighter. One who always fights with all his colleagues. For no reason whatsoever. He does not even respect his senior players, including Viru bhai. That’s exactly what happened today. Without any provocation, he just kept on calling me something which was very rude which shouldn’t have been said by Mr Gautam Gambhir,” the former India bowler said.

“I am not at all at fault here. I just wanted to clear the air straightaway. What Mr Gauti has done, sooner or later all of you will get to know. The words which he used and the things he said on a cricket field, live, is not acceptable. My family, my state, everybody has gone through so much. I fought that battle with all your support. Now people want to down me for no reason. He said things he shouldn’t have said. I will surely let you know what he said,” he clarified.

Sreesanth, 40, also brought up Gambhir’s spats with Virat Kohli in the past. Gambhir and Kohli had an on-field exchange after a clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants in May in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

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“What’s the point of representing people if you don’t respect your own colleagues. Even in broadcasting when he is asked about Virat, he never speaks about him. He speaks about something else. I don’t want to go further in detail. Just want to say I am very hurt and my family is hurt and my dear ones are hurt. And the way he said things…. I haven’t used a single bad word or a single abuse. He just kept on saying words which he always does,” said Sreesanth.

The heated exchange happened in the second over of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) match when Gambhir hit Sreesanth for a four and a six on back-to-back deliveries. Gambhir would then hit the next delivery straight to a fielder, which brought on some words from Sreesanth.

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In the end, though, Gambhir’s Capitals won the Eliminator match by 12 runs as Gujarat Giants were knocked out of the tournament. The Capitals will next face Manipal Tigers in the second qualifier. Urbanrisers Hyderabad await the winner in the final.