During a live commentary session for the 2023 Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan, Gautam Gambhir made a statement that stirred up controversy among fans, particularly those who admire MS Dhoni. Gambhir's comment seemed to contradict his previous stance on Dhoni's role in India's World Cup victories.

Over the years, Gautam Gambhir has been vocal about his disapproval of the hero worship culture in Indian cricket, emphasizing the need to recognize and appreciate the contributions of all team members, not just star players like Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

In a past interview with the Indian Express, Gambhir referred to the 1983 World Cup win, where Kapil Dev was the center of attention, and similarly, the 2007 and 2011 World Cup victories, with Dhoni taking the spotlight. He questioned the role of media and broadcasters in creating this hero-centric narrative, stating that it should be about Indian cricket as a whole, not just one individual.

In another recent interaction with News 18, Gambhir highlighted the contributions of Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup wins. He argued that marketing and PR efforts had unfairly overshadowed the collective team effort, emphasizing that no single individual can win a major tournament.

Despite his consistent stance on this issue, Gambhir's comments have always faced criticism from Dhoni's loyal fans. So, when Gambhir acknowledged Dhoni's role in India's victory against Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup and praised Harbhajan Singh's winning run, it sparked accusations of hypocrisy from Dhoni's supporters.

During the 2010 thrilling encounter in Dambulla, Gambhir played a crucial role in India's chase of 268 runs, partnering with Dhoni in a vital 102-run stand. However, when Harbhajan Singh hit the winning run, Gambhir downplayed his own contribution, giving credit to Harbhajan and emphasizing that the player who scores the decisive run ultimately secures victory for the team.

Fans were quick to point out the perceived inconsistency in Gambhir's comments, given his history of advocating against individual hero worship in cricket. This led to criticism and trolling of Gambhir on various social media platforms.