Gautam Gambhir Slams 'Toxic' Social Media Culture After T20 World Cup Win

Kathmandu. Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has described social media as a "toxic" culture, stating that it is essential to keep players away from it. Speaking with the media after India recently won the T20 World Cup 2026 title, he said the main reason for the team's success was protecting the players from external pressure and the influence of social media.

India won the title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final match. According to Gambhir, the team adopted a strategy to reduce "external disturbances" during the tournament, which allowed players to focus on their performance without the pressure of criticism and expectations. "Social media has become extremely negative in today's time. Players are also human beings, and it is natural for them to make mistakes," he said.

He clarified that he is not accountable to the comments appearing on social media but is responsible only to his players and true cricket supporters. He stated that his primary job as a coach is not to prove critics wrong but to provide support and protection to the players.

Gambhir expressed the view that there is a growing trend of creating negative narratives on social media for views and likes, making it necessary to shield players from such an environment. He also mentioned that aggression in the game is natural and, since players put in their full effort to win for the country, they should not be subjected to unnecessary criticism.