NEW DELHI: Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir has expressed strong criticism of the prevailing obsession with statistics and perceived media bias in Indian cricket.
In an interview on the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Gambhir argued that the problem arises when a player’s performance is not adequately recognized and valued.

“People who say it was an underrated knock are the people who undervalue and underappreciate.

Nothing is underrated, it is under-shown and under-valued, and that is where the problem lies. The country is obsessed with stats. Till the time you let go of the obsession with stats till then you won’t get results,” remarked Gambhir.
He highlighted the pressure faced by current players in the Indian cricket team, suggesting that the constant scrutiny and race to maintain form might lead to potential challenges, particularly in pressure situations.

Gambhir also pointed out the potential burden of expectations, citing the home team advantage as both a morale booster and a burden.
Gambhir took a swipe at the media, claiming that the Indian cricket team has not won a World Cup since the broadcaster has become a public relations machinery for certain players. He expressed concern that when a broadcaster becomes a PR agent for specific individuals, it affects other cricketers who may be unable to speak out openly.

“It’s been a long time since India won a World Cup, and the bitter truth is our media and importantly the social media, if they become a PR machinery for certain individuals then you will never get the result,” added Gambhir.
The former cricketer emphasised the importance of fairness and equal recognition for all players in the squad. He criticised the tendency to give credit to specific individuals at the expense of others and called for a team-oriented approach.
“One of the biggest crimes is to give one’s credit to someone else. Every player deserves to get their credits. Broadcasters can never be a PR machinery; they need to be fair to everyone sitting in that dressing room because everyone works hard. They need to value equally and not only one or two individuals,” stated Gambhir.

Reflecting on his own experience in the 2011 World Cup, Gambhir mentioned the lack of extensive social media at the time and a broadcaster less focused on individual interests. He noted a significant change in the current scenario, with the nation shifting from a batting-focused obsession to recognizing and appreciating bowlers like Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
Gambhir concluded by stressing the need for India to become a team-obsessed nation to achieve success in future World Cups.
(With inputs from ANI)