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Before the dark cloud and heavy rain, the day started with a nice warm sun over the SSC Ground in Colombo. The India vs Sri Lanka Test match paused because of the rain, and the former cricketers and experts got some time to describe the day.
In one of the rare moments, India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir was spotted smiling on the ground. The reason was the former Sri Lanka National Cricket Team captain Angelo Mathews. Mathews forced Gambhir to smile, who mostly maintains a stoic nature on the sidelines and during coaching.
Angelo Mathews makes Gautam Gambhir smile
At the studio, former India cricketer turned Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle displayed the moment on screen when Angelo Mathews, in his former attire, walked straight to talk with Gautam Gambhir. They both exchanged some words with each other, which seemed funny as both of the teams were smiling.
Despite coming from different nations, Gambhir and Mathews have faced each other multiple times in international matches and IPL games. So they are former teammates who know each other very well. Harsha Bhogle, the host in the studio, asked the former Sri Lanka all-rounder about his conversation with the Indian cricket team head coach.
Angelo Mathews explains his relationship with Gautam Gambhir
Mathews stated he played with Gautam Gambhir and had a great relationship with him, and they had some great moments all together on and off the field. During today's conversation in Colombo, he mainly talked with him about his coaching stint.
"So, I mean, we've been playing together for a while, and we've had a great relationship. We had some good moments on and off the field. And, yeah, so I just asked him if he's enjoying coaching, and it was just about, you know, coaching," Angelo Mathews said to Harsha Bhogle on Sony Sports Network.
Angelo got him to smile! 😊
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 24, 2026
Reflecting on their time together, Angelo Mathews opens up about GG’s fierce competitive spirit and the great mutual respect and bond they share on and off the field! ✨
Watch #SLvIND, 2nd Test, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.… pic.twitter.com/3gvdQ0vQKO
Angelo Mathews played for KKR
Mathews and Gambhir did not play together in the Indian Premier League for any franchise. Interestingly, they crossed each other's paths during the IPL 2009-10 season. Gambhir played for Delhi Daredevils in 2010 before transferring to KKR in 2011, but Mathews was already part of the KKR squad in 2010.
In the 2009-2010 IPL season, the Lankan star scored 233 runs with a high score of 65* and took 8 wickets with his medium-pace bowling. Angelo Mathews was named the best player of the match in a match against the Deccan Chargers for KKR.
Gautam Gambhir, who mostly played as an opener for the Delhi Capitals, scored 277 runs across 11 games and secured only a couple of half-centuries. He scored more than Mathews, but that was a below-par performance according to the Indian batter's standard.
Later, it was Gautam Gambhir who led the KKR to glory, first as captain, then as the mentor of the team. Gambhir captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL trophy victories, winning the championships in 2012 and 2014, as the captain, and as the mentor,r he helped the franchise to win the title in 2024.
