ICC World Cup 2023: Salman Butt Opens Up About His Relationship With Gautam Gambhir Says, 'We Have Gone Out For Meals In Karachi'

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt recently opened up about his cordial relationship with former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, revealing that they have even dined together in Karachi. Butt shared that he and Gambhir have engaged in numerous cricket-related discussions, appreciating Gambhir’s deep knowledge of the game and his insightful analysis.

In one of his YouTube videos, Salman Butt spoke about their friendship, saying, “Yes, Gautam Gambhir and I are very good friends. We have gone out for meals in Karachi, and we have had good discussions. He makes a lot of sense when he talks about cricket. Some players are very intense on the field, and he is one of them. That’s fine, as every player carries his own temperament.”

It’s important to note that Gautam Gambhir has been known for his provocative comments about Pakistan in the past. During his playing days, he engaged in heated exchanges with former Pakistani cricketers such as Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi.

Salman Butt Picks Virat Kohli As India’s Standout Batter

During the same video, a fan asked Salman Butt to pick a standout batsman to watch out for at the 2023 World Cup, listing Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli as options.

The 39-year-old stated that all three batsmen are currently in exceptional form, but Kohli holds an edge due to his remarkable ability to turn the tide of a game in his team’s favor. Butt commented, “It is difficult to choose one of the three, given that they are all in very good form. However, I don’t think any experts would pick any other batter over Kohli. God has given him such capabilities that he turns around matches from nowhere. But they are all equally dangerous.”

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill- all three of them have been in amazing form and that is what the Indian team needs right during the World Cup. However, Shubman Gill will reportedly miss the first two matches as he has tested positive for Dengue. In his absence, we can see Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma open the innings.

India is set to kick off their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, October 8. They will face arch-rivals Pakistan on 14th October at the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad.