India-Pakistan Rivalry Has Become An Industry: Gautam Gambhir

Cricket Image for India-Pakistan Rivalry Has Become An Industry: Gautam Gambhir (Image Source: AFP)

The Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup 2021 began with India taking on Pakistan - probably the most-watched rivalry in cricket - and the tournament will end with another two neighbors facing each other in the finals - New Zealand and Australia. 

However, the hype around the match is no close to what India vs Pakistan, or England vs Australia in the Ashes brings up. 

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, too, has noticed this difference in hyping a cricket match ahead of the T20 World Cup final clash on Sunday. 

"It is difficult to notice the cricketing rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. Like India and Pakistan, they are neighbors too. Like Indians and Pakistanis, Aussies and Kiwis hate losing to each other," Gambhir wrote in Times Of India. 

"By no means is the rivalry as fierce as the one between India and Pakistan. Have you wondered why? Are they not cynical enough to create lob-sided advertising campaigns to sell their products riding on what is essentially a cricket match? Or is it the economics of the major stakeholders?"

Gambhir further added that the rivalry has become an industry and no one wants to reduce the jingoism volume since it generates revenue. 

"I sometimes feel that India-Pakistan rivalry has become an industry in itself, which keeps many other verticals warm. No one seems to be in a hurry to reduce the jingoism volume on this one as it generates revenue.

"It is not only Virat Kohli but most of India wears their heart on their sleeve. Let's accept it that we are poor losers and that is what that marketing guy exploits when he sucks us into high-pitched, biased promotional campaigns."