Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has raised eyebrows over the authenticity of social media posts by Nitish Rana and Harshit Rana, which strongly defended Gautam Gambhir amidst growing criticism. These posts came in response to allegations made by former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Manoj Tiwary, who accused Gambhir of favoritism during his tenure as KKR mentor.
Tiwary had earlier slammed Gambhir, calling him a “hypocrite” in an interview, and accused him of forming a lobby to benefit select players. He also questioned the integrity of Gambhir’s coaching staff, alleging they had vested interests. However, Nitish and Harshit took to social media to defend Gambhir, highlighting his leadership qualities and selflessness.
Criticism should be based on facts not personal insecurities. Gauti bhaiyya is one of the most selfless players I’ve ever met. He shoulders responsibility in times of distress like no other. Performance doesn’t need any PR. The trophies speak for themselves.
— Nitish Rana (@NitishRana_27) January 9, 2025Nitish Rana tweeted, “Criticism should be based on facts, not personal insecurities. Gauti bhaiyya is one of the most selfless players I’ve ever met. Performance doesn’t need PR; the trophies speak for themselves.” Similarly, Harshit echoed these sentiments, calling Gambhir someone who always supports players in tough times.
Harshit Rana on GG pic.twitter.com/CbvQa7stcg
— Amitava (@PowerplayPundit) January 9, 2025However, Aakash Chopra noticed striking similarities between their posts and suggested that the messages may not be entirely genuine. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra remarked, “It felt like both scripts were written by the same person or machine. The similarity is uncanny, and it makes you wonder if these were created by ChatGPT or written for them by someone else.”
Chopra’s comments have added another layer to the controversy surrounding Gambhir. While his stint as India’s T20I coach has been a success with an unbeaten record in six matches, his performance in ODIs and Tests has come under scrutiny after a home-series loss to New Zealand and a defeat in Australia.
With Gambhir’s coaching under the spotlight, and his former players standing up for him, the debate continues to divide opinions. Whether the posts defending him were orchestrated or not, the larger question remains: can Gambhir turn India’s fortunes around and silence his critics? The coming matches will be crucial not just for his legacy but also for his standing as a coach in the cricketing world.
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