India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s promotional fantasy cricket post sparks controversy as fans question a potential ‘conflict of interest’ before the ICC Champions Trophy final.
March 9, 2025: Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has found himself at the center of a social media storm just hours before India faces New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. The former cricketer shared a promotional post related to a fantasy cricket app, asking fans to predict whether the “Ro-Ko” duo—Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—could lead India to victory.
Social Media Uproar Over ‘Conflict of Interest’
A large section of fans took to the comments section to express their displeasure, questioning how the head coach of the Indian team could be involved in promoting fantasy cricket while the team was on the verge of playing a crucial ICC final.
Gambhir’s post read:
“Kya RO-KO ki jodi Bharat ko ek aur Champions ODI trophy jeeta paayegi? Real11 par Trade karo. Aise hi aur sawalo ke jawab Yes/No mein do aur dheero inaam jeeto!”
Kya RO-KO ki jodi Bharat🇮🇳 ko ek aur Champions ODI trophy jeeta paayegi?🤔
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 9, 2025
Real11 par Trade karo. Aise hi aur sawalo ke jawab Yes✅/❌No mein do aur dheero inaam jeeto!💸#CricketX #Real11 #INDvsNZ @Real11official
Download Link – https://t.co/jFv1ZXcBhp
Signup Code- GAMBHIR &… pic.twitter.com/AXtvOtZwZi
Many fans called out Gambhir, questioning the ethics of a national coach endorsing a betting-related platform on the eve of an important match.
Kya RO-KO ki jodi Bharat🇮🇳 ko ek aur Champions ODI trophy jeeta paayegi?🤔
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 9, 2025
Real11 par Trade karo. Aise hi aur sawalo ke jawab Yes✅/❌No mein do aur dheero inaam jeeto!💸#CricketX #Real11 #INDvsNZ @Real11official
Download Link – https://t.co/jFv1ZXcBhp
Signup Code- GAMBHIR &… pic.twitter.com/AXtvOtZwZi
Kya RO-KO ki jodi Bharat🇮🇳 ko ek aur Champions ODI trophy jeeta paayegi?🤔
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 9, 2025
Real11 par Trade karo. Aise hi aur sawalo ke jawab Yes✅/❌No mein do aur dheero inaam jeeto!💸#CricketX #Real11 #INDvsNZ @Real11official
Download Link – https://t.co/jFv1ZXcBhp
Signup Code- GAMBHIR &… pic.twitter.com/AXtvOtZwZi
Kya RO-KO ki jodi Bharat🇮🇳 ko ek aur Champions ODI trophy jeeta paayegi?🤔
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 9, 2025
Real11 par Trade karo. Aise hi aur sawalo ke jawab Yes✅/❌No mein do aur dheero inaam jeeto!💸#CricketX #Real11 #INDvsNZ @Real11official
Download Link – https://t.co/jFv1ZXcBhp
Signup Code- GAMBHIR &… pic.twitter.com/AXtvOtZwZi
Gambhir’s Impact on India’s Champions Trophy Campaign
Despite the controversy, Gambhir’s tactical decisions have been instrumental in India’s success in the tournament. He received criticism for selecting five spinners in the squad for the Dubai conditions, but the strategy has paid off, with spinners like Varun Chakravarthy playing a crucial role in India’s dominance.
While BCCI has not issued an official statement on the matter, Gambhir’s social media post has certainly added an unexpected distraction before the big final.
📌 Tags:
#GautamGambhir, #ChampionsTrophy2025, #RoKo, #IndiaVsNewZealand, #GambhirControversy, #RohitSharma, #ViratKohli, #IndianCricket, #BCCI, #FantasyCricket,