Sreesanth Accuses Gautam Gambhir of Calling Him 'Fixer' and 'Deshdrohi' — Full Story Here

Former India pacer S. Sreesanth has levelled this accusation against Gautam Gambhir. The controversy concerns an incident during a Legends League Cricket (LLC) game in December 2023. Sreesanth alleges that in an on-field spat with Gambhir, he was not only abused by the former captain but was also called a "fixer" and a "Deshdrohi" (country betrayer).

Gambhir is once again under fire from Sreesanth. The matter has raised its head again as Gambhir is India men’s head coach, and the issue is once again a matter of importance, more so in the eyes of the cricket-loving public.

What Went Down At The Legends League Cricket Match?

Sreesanth maintained that the argument was during a Legends League Cricket game in December 2023. He said the duel began after he bowled a bouncer to Gambhir.
In a recent interview, Sreesanth talked about the incident and said that the former India captain told him, “I own you.” Editor’s note: Further comments from Sreesanth, including a claim that Gambhir called him a “fixer” and "deshdrohi."

Sreesanth continued, "I was also surprised at the reaction, and I too checked with Gambhir if all was well. He said the it earlier, but later added that the verbal abuse did not end. He also claimed that there was foul language used in the argument.

The former pacer is of the opinion that what was said went beyond standard on-field sledging and wasn’t befitting the respect ex-teammates share.

See Also: Watch: "Gambhir hatao, dhoni ko lao" — Sreesanth's brutal attack on India coach Gautam Gambhir

Why Are These Allegations So Serious?

The issue has made headlines because of Sreesanth’s previous association with the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Following the scandal, he was banned for life by the BCCI. But that sanction was later softened, and he served a seven-year ban and then made a comeback to cricket in 2020.

Sreesanth says because of that history, being labeled a "fixer" is especially painful. He contends such comments continue to resurrect a dark period of his career.

The use of the word "Deshdrohi" has also become a talking point among fans. Take the allegation at face value and concede this sort of language should not be used by any former international cricketer with another, especially in a veterans tournament where the spirit of play—even if not competitive play—should be paramount. 

See Also: Watch: Gautam Gambhir distributes cold drinks to fans visibly troubled by heat during India vs Afghanistan Test match

Tales of World Cup teammates turned public rivals

Sreesanth and Gambhir were once the key pillars of India’s triumphant 2007 T20 WC and 2011 ODI WC-winning squads. Both had a role in some of the greatest successes in Indian cricket.

Nevertheless, as years passed, the two sank relationship-wise. The Legends League Cricket spat brought to the fore the animosity between the ex-teammates.
Currently, there is no fresh public statement from Gambhir on the latest allegations by Sreesanth. As India team's head coach, any controversy emanating in his name is bound to catch the public’s fancy.

For now, it's a case of one individual's accusations against another. Let’s see if there are more responses to this or follow-up developments. The controversy has, however, again shone a spotlight on the relationship of two former World Cup winners and reopened debate about incidents from the past that still have an impact on Indian cricket.