Gautam Gambhir backs Virat Kohli and Team India amidst talks of boycotting Pakistan game

There has been much talk about the India-Pakistan encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy as both teams gear up for their opening game of the tournament. Some have expressed their disappointment towards the BCCI for allowing the Indian Cricket Team to go ahead with the game, while some others have called for a complete boycott.

In the light of border tensions between India and Pakistan which has resulted in Indian soldiers being beheaded and mutilated, families of those affected have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop the game. However, the Indian government has made it clear that it cannot intervene in an international tournament like the Champions Trophy while assuring that a bilateral series between the two countries is out of the question as of now.

Meanwhile, sportsmen in India have voiced their opinions regarding the matter on the micro-blogging platform Twitter. India’s ace doubles badminton player Jwala Gutta took to Twitter to respond to the boycott messages. “Boycotting n banning is not the answer…play for the country and winning is the only way,” she tweeted on Sunday morning.

Boycotting n banning is not the answer…play for the country and winning is the only way…✌???

— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) June 4, 2017

Gautam Gambhir clicks a selfie with a soldier

On the other hand, India opener Gautam Gambhir posted a selfie with an Indian soldier at an airport, thus extending his support for the Indian Army as well as Team India. His tweet read, “Where is your soldier-selfie? Here is mine. Both of us will be praying for an India win today.”

Where is your soldier-selfie? Here is mine. Both of us will be praying for an India win today. @BCCI @ICC @majorgauravarya @FeverFMOfficial pic.twitter.com/PpK7tovH7H

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 4, 2017

Gautam Gambhir is a known supporter of the Indian Army and its deeds. He has been passionately backing the Indian soldiers. Gambhir has also initiated a social media drive to click selfies with Indian soldiers to support them and express gratitude towards them for their bravery.

In April, the Indian opener had announced that he would bear the entire cost of education for children of Indian soldiers martyred in the Sukma Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh. He also donated his Man of the Match sum to families of martyred soldiers during an IPL game. His team, Kolkata Knight Riders, played one of their IPL matches with black armbands.