Mumbai: Former Indian player Praveen Kumar said that Gautam Gambhir’s statement, alleging that the media and broadcasters made MS Dhoni a hero during the 2011 World Cup victory, is true. Praveen Kumar mentioned that he has played with both of them for Bharat.
Speaking to a media person, Praveen Kumar said that Gambhir is still not happy to give credit to Dhoni for the 2011 World Cup win. Praveen Kumar also said that players such as Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, and Gautam Gambhir deserve greater recognition for their contributions to Bharat’s achievements in the sport.
Praveen Kumar’s perspective adds weight to Gambhir’s stance, although Kumar refrained from directly naming Dhoni. He emphasised the need for Indian cricket to move away from the culture of hero worship, advocating for recognition of all team members’ efforts rather than elevating individual stars.
Kumar highlighted the significant performances of players like Yuvraj Singh, who claimed 15 wickets and contributed vital runs, and Zaheer Khan, who took 21 wickets during the tournament. He also noted Gambhir’s impressive batting displays across the 2007 T20 and 2011 World Cups, underscoring the collective effort required for a team to secure victory.
Praveen Kumar also criticised Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, alleging that Pandya’s primary focus lies on financial gains. Kumar pointed out Pandya’s decision to prioritise participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) without representing the national and domestic teams. Recently, Pandya joined the Mumbai Indians and emerged as the team’s captain.
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