'How About Saying, Well Tried Boys': Gambhir Urges Fans To Support Indian Team After World Cup Elimination

As soon as New Zealand defeated Afghanistan on Sunday, the Indian team was officially out of the race of semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2021. 

The Indian team didn't have a memorable World Cup and were struggling to keep up in the race after losing the first two games of the Super 12 massively; one against Pakistan and the other against New Zealand. 

Virat Kohli & Co. are under severe criticism by fans as yet another year passed when India couldn't win an ICC trophy. However, during these tough times, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has come to the defence of the team and urged fans not to be disrespectful and unfaithful towards the players. 

"I'd urge the fans to continue to be proud of the Indian team. We will be disrespectful and unfaithful as their supporters if we judged them on this solitary performance in the ongoing World Cup. Yes, we lost to Pakistan. Yes, we were beaten on strategy by New Zealand. Yes, our friends from across the border are in the semis and we are not," Gambhir wrote in his column for Times of India. 

The two-time World Cup winner highlighted that India has been brilliant in the recent past and that too against top teams. 

"This Indian team won us a series in Australia early this year. Next, they turned it around when England visited India to beat them in all three formats. We currently lead them 2-1 in the away Test series with the last game to be played next year."

Gambhir also acknowledged the players who are moving from one bio-bubble to another from the past year without much break. 

“Before we take them to the cleaners, please pause and think that all these games were played in a bio-secure bubble. I know a few individuals who were petrified answering their doorbell when Covid-19 was at its peak, leave alone stepping out to work.

"But players were training at home, taking flights, quarantining in a hotel room, living a bubbled life to play and entertain you and me. Yes, they are paid handsomely and it's a professional world out there. How about just saying, "well tried, boys".