Gautam Gambhir Gets Suspended Four-Match Ban For Altercation With Coach
Gautam Gambhir, the discarded India opener, was on Saturday (June 17) handed a four-match suspension from first-class cricket for his altercation with Delhi coach Bhaskar Pillai during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in March this year. The left-handed batsman was found guilty of ‘seriously inappropriate behavior’ by a three-member independent committee set up by Delhi and Districts Cricket Association administrator Justice Vikramjit Sen, comprising of Madan Lal, Rajendra Rathore and advocate Soni Singh.
However, Justice Sen has decided to suspend the punishment for a period of two years ending on 30th March 2019′. But the reprieve comes with the condition that the southpaw should not be involved in similar incidents during this period.
“Having learnt of an incident, which occurred when the team from DDCA was in Orissa, in which an altercation between Gautam Gambhir and Bhaskar Pillai had transpired, and pursuant to a complaint received from Pillai, I met both persons on 10th March 2017. The matter could not be amicably and satisfactorily resolved,” Sen said in a statement.
“The Committee Members agree that considering the above facts and circumstances that have come to light, Mr Gambhir’s actions towards Mr. Pillai with premeditated intent to humiliate the coach were highly inappropriate and of serious nature. It is recommended that such inappropriate behavior requires being penalized not only in a proportionate manner, but in a manner that has a deterrent effect so that it is not repeated and such issues are taken seriously by all team members,” he added.
“The Committee members feel the necessity of deterrent effect of penalties on account of such seriously inappropriate behavior to inculcate discipline within the team and in the interest of the game of cricket. Having such considerations and findings as above in mind, the Committee Members recommend that Mr. Gautam Gambhir should not be allowed to play in 4 (four) First Class matches of the Delhi team at the start of the next season, i.e. 2017-18 on account of his deliberate and pre-meditated inappropriate behavior,” he said.
Gambhir and Bhaskar had a heated altercation after Delhi’s Vijay Trophy campaign ended in Bhuvneshwar. Reports had suggested that Gambhir had abused the coach but the hot-headed opener had categorically denied that. In his defense, the Delhi opener had said he was not ready to let the coach ‘play with the career’ of the youngsters.
“If protecting a youngster is a crime, I am guilty. If making 20-22 year olds feel secure in an insecure environment is a crime, then I am guilty. But I could not have let this man (Bhaskar) play with careers of young players like Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana,” he had said in an interview.
“Dressing room is a private environment. It’s like a bedroom. There may be many discussions but that’s not supposed to be discussed with media. I never spoke what all he (Bhaskar) said after we lost a T20 match in Himachal as to what laurels he had brought to Delhi cricket and where these youngsters are taking it to? Is it how you deal with youngsters?,” he had added.
Gambhir, meanwhile, is currently out of the Indian team and is not looking in the mix of things. The opening batsman was recalled to the Test team last year but was soon dropped following a string of low scores. However, there were speculations of him getting a call for the ODI team for the Champions Trophy after KL Rahul was ruled out owing to an injury and Shikhar Dhawan not being in good form. Gambhir was in brilliant form in the IPL, scoring 498 runs but was still overlooked for his state teammate Shikhar Dhawan.
