When someone is representing the Country he should put everything aside. He could've played 3rd test...

hi akash
speaking of weddings..i read somewhere that you did not play the last ranji game bcoz of ur own wedding. Is that true. If it is ,then congratulations on the same and wish u a happy married life

The media should be like giving constructive criticism enabling better love, faith and most of all being human...This is one good example how our media has drastically fallen down to atrocious levels...spreading hatred among people. I know there is lot of competition in the media business having 100s of TV channels and an equal amount of Newspapers but this type of hammering an individual wont help in achieving TRPs. What Aakash said is absolutely true and Gambhir deserves to be at his Sister's wedding and missing a test match is not like end of the world. We have to be just grateful that a player like him is playing for India and I wish him many more good knocks for India...

I second Akash on this topic, truly feel the cricketers should be cut a bit of clack when it comes to family situations since the rest of the time during the peak of their lives they spend it playing for the nation and for us. The media should control themselves and actually try to be a bit educated when it comes to these issues, it remains to be seen if the journalist whoever was anchoring that episode would leave his important family commitments just to do his everyday job, but why does it always have to bite a cricketer when he needs to take these breaks. There are so many other topics that could be debated why does it have to be Gambir attending his sisters wedding
Its time we stopped debating their personal lives as being a cricketer i feel they are second to the jawans guarding our nation as they too give their heart and soul and work to make us happy and proud so that we could brag in front our international friends

Kudos Akash great blog

Cheers

Very rightly said Aakash. Anyway, Indian media is the last thing we should be worried about. They are typical glory hunters. They just want to sell any type of news, and making them more sensational is the way for them.

Spot on....i certainly didn't criticize him for that as I believed India could certainly have beaten SL without him. So its fine. As far as the media is concerned. They are nothing but a bunch of hooligans with white collars. Honestly speaking, they should be whacked till they cry for mercy.

I find it ridiculous that some consider players' duties to the Indian team to be more important than their personal lives. Its about time we, as a society, realise that Cricket is no more than a game that's meant for entertainment and not a war that decides India's future.

Hats off to Gambhir for getting his priorities right. I pity the guys in the media who took a special occasion like that to get cheap mileage. God forgive them.

More than anything cricket is a job for cricketers. Only somebody who went to work instead of attending a siblings wedding has a right to criticize gautam gambhir.

Akash, If I am right, I read about young Virat Kohli playing against Karnataka when the new of his father's death broke out. He played a major role in that match.

Gambhir has full right to take a break to attend his sister's wedding . The game of cricket is a GAME, a JOB for him and nobody's life depends on it. Its just entertainment after all. If normal people like the ones who makes comments on this site can take a leave from their job, then so can Gambhir.

Hi Akash,

You have addressed a real good thing. Our media should be constructive enough. I really appreciate what Gautam Gambhir done for the country. I absolutely support his decision to attend his sister's marriage and also wish him all the best for his career.

While I believe that Gambhir was certainly justified in attending his sister's marriage, had circumstances been different, I feel the move would have been selfish.
If India was trailing 0-1 or 0-2 (or even tied at 0-0) I feel that a cricketer must, occasionally, put his country's needs before his own.

also let's not forget where gambhir stands in the scheme of things righ now, as far as places in the Indian team is concerned. he has been India's most consistent batsman of the last year and a half, his place is secure as a test opener. if he was fighting for a place, with Vijay, Jaffer and co breathing down his neck, i dont think Gambhir would have taken the call to miss a test, especially when u consider india's pathetic test schedule over the next year. he has earned his place, and made the right call. Nice one Akash...

The cricket calendar is decided well in advance Akash. Are you telling me they could not have taken cognisance of that when the dates were being decided? How bizarre is that? I am no one to make value judgments my man but you cannot equate a death in the family with a wedding. One is planned to the last detail, another is uncertain.

Very true Aakash. I can remember one Delhi player cmae to bat next day when his dad expired and played a wonderfull innings in tears and helped delhi, two-three seasons ago.

well said akash.gambhir did the right thing..some india media are now nothing but a crap.they will do anything for poularity and money....

Well Akash. Everyone has a right to put family first and the hypocritical ignoramuses who criticise this would do the same. Gambhir has already done a lot for his country as have you. What have these critics done other than waste newsprint and ecoresources over frivolous matters purely because it boosts their ratings irrespective of whether they have a point to make or not.
Regards,
Ranjith

hi...chop
my opinion is gauti has don right thing...
becoz mental present is a important one thing to a player.by the way of his unpresent we got another good player who is MURALIVIJAY so evry thig has happen 4 good.............

@Guru: Dude, first be capable of representing a country, then only speak about those who represent our country. Gauti was absolutely right in what he did, and the Board itself supported it. So, any damn media and any person is not in a position to criticise that.
@Vistasp: Cricket calendar is planned for the next 2-3 years, and marriages are planned in a period of 6 monmths or maximum 1 year. And, no one is comparing death to a wedding, everyone is saying gauti gave priority to his family, which was a right thing to do for a person of his stature....

If somebody put leave and go for a sister's marriage .. does it mean that he didnt work for the company ... even the military has some leaves ... everyone has a right to think of their family .. if he didn't consider his family .. how can that person think about the country .. WAKE UP GUYS ..

Cricket is a sport.Its not only Gauti who has to perform.cricket is a team sport.Attending to once in a lifetime functions in family are equally important.Indian cricekt has come of age but not many people in india have come of age.Its not that he is in the army fighting a war.even though the cricket calenser is fixed that cannot be relied upon totally.the schedule of indias matches/tours have been rescheduled good number of times.just like we take leave from our jobs he took a leave.Desh bada ya behen is the most ridicolous comment and its high time the medias tongue is cut for starting such things and making a it a national issue.one must learn to respect an individuals personal life and privacy.

Hi really excellent on ur part to take a go on the countries so cheap filthy media esp those 7X24 news channels. Even when team was announced they said Dravid n Laxman made a comeback into side. When did these two greats miss out from Test team? Not just in this issue they are making commotion in name of communication in every issue. Its better the Govt bans them. And I feel Gauti did wat he should do.

Hi Akash kudos for yet another wonderful article. Hats off to Team India too. @ Vistasp : Friend the time schedule of series alone is released during FTP. As for as the date of matches, Itenerary is released just a month before the series are so and by early october in this case. And most of our Indian weddings are planned thro' engagement some 4 months to 5 months back. So u can't blame Gambir. Also when v as individuals want to attend the marriage of near n dear wat wrong has Gauti done to miss it? Also these crap media must be banned. Who the hell are they to question his commitment? Did not they keep their TRP ahead of National Security during 26/11 attacks and helped the terrorists? Rightly those persons should be "Tried" for Crime against Nation.

Good one, Akash. My reaction was the same when I heard such adverse comments against Gambhir. "Cricketers also have a private life." It is really a pathetic thinking to suggest that someone "betrayed" his country by attending his sister's wedding. Even if India had lost the third Test in Gambhir's absence, I would still have supported his decision. I am sure nearly every cricket fan who reads this article agrees with me. :)

hey Aakash, don't give a damn about what media says in India. The best thing is to ignore and if everybody will ignore, they will realize that their news is no more sensational and will try to amend. On the contrary, if you spend too much time in critisizing them, actually you are also spreading their ridiculous thoughts as many more people will read what have you written. I am sure every sane person is thoughtful enough to think that sister's marriage is a one time occassion and no brother( at least in India) would like to miss that. Infact, in hindu marriages, brother is a most important person involved in so many rituals during sister's marriage. Cricketers are also doing their job and they have all right to be with their families on important occasions as everybody else. Also, Its not a war, just a game so nobody actually can compare it with what soldiers do on border and in my view their status is much above than any cricketer any day as our survival is dependent on them.

Cricketers should have the freedom of choice and we should respect that.. after all this is not slavery. If their mind is not there in the game they can not perform. Gambhir can not give 100% on the field when his sister is getting married at home.

They are also human... those who are complaining... if they were in that situation wat will be the responds... vijay is a promising openeer he showed that too.. Hussey came to the side at the age of 33.. he is now calling Mr Perfect... None in early stahe is Aus gave him a chance.. becoz of senior...., gautham is a fine opener and a good man too...

There is no problem if even Tendulkar and Dravid had weddings - the umpires are playing for India and if referrels were permitted India would still be fighting to get to number one. It serves them right that SA will not play any tests in Feb - they will be down the ladder in a couple of weeks and the umpire backed honeymoon will be over sooner than expected..............

There is no problem if even Tendulkar and Dravid had weddings - the umpires are playing for India and if referrels were permitted India would still be fighting to get to number one. It serves them right that SA will not play any tests in Feb - they will be down the ladder in a couple of weeks and the umpire backed honeymoon will be over sooner than expected..............

Media has this wonderful habit of going overboard about everything. Would not the journo take leave when his/her sister would be getting married? Cricketers are also professionals, so they can also apply for leaves, if granted take it. Who the hell is public/media?

even if he played with out attending the wedding of his sister he cant be well in the third test. better he did stay away from the match. if he plays his mind won't be in the completely. We have to remember that a calm and happy mind only will help to provide the best of each personal. so in my view, i agree him. you can simply understand that how he can put up his best while his sister is getting married. his mind will be there and he cant consenderate in game.

Gautam had every right to miss a test to attend his sister's wedding. The media persons who critisised him are the same people who acted so irresponsibly during the attacks in Mumbai by exposing our soldiers positions on TV screens to the terrorists. So they have no right to claim to be more patriotic.

I dont know why we are even debating this issue. While I agree national interests should take priority, its not like we are fighting a war. Cricket is a game and lets leave it at that. I would like to see if the reporter or the TV anchor in question would forgo an important event in his family for the sake of covering a cricket match.

It's great to see a cricketer like you bringing this out and sharing the sentiments of your colleagues at that level. I second you, and am totally with Gautam Gambhir in this issue, if it can be classified as an 'issue' in the first place. Whatever channel telecasted the program like you mentioned, probably is one of those typical quintessentially attention seeking ones who thought this would increase their viewership. Surely, their status can be careened of the road, for it is a disgrace more than an act of stupidity.

Eventually, these decisions boil down to the individual, and all the "ifs" and "buts" I see and hear are surely from people who have no respect for the sport and its associated sportsmen - ones who feel their opinions are the ones that matter and they've probably achieved a great deal in life to take the chair.

I'm really glad you put this picture in the limelight, for it surely lets us Indians know the relatively large sample-set of cynics who follow the game like us

he is not a soldier to put country ahead of his sister wedding... its just a game.

Someone who serves his family can only really serve his country. All those people who criticises just do that only and never do anything for the country.Gambir is someone who played a lot of cricket for India and leaving a test match for his sisters wedding is a right thing to do.

wel done goutham........always family first.

Here I was thinking the British press was being a bit insensitive to the importance of weddings in Indian culture (NOTE! This is NOT the same thing as racism to those who throw this claim out knee-jerk stylee) when they made a similar moan. It turns out that it's journalists, not western journalists, who are insensitive. Let the man have his life, for goodness sake - as has been said many times here, it's just a game.

Yes, Aakash you are true, you need to give equal importance to game and life, but, this is bad with our country that there are certain medias who beleive in spreading or creating controversies or taking on someones personal life. Gautham has the full rights to do that.

Very rightly said ....
It is none of the business of media to make a guy like Gautam to understand how to set proirities!
Media itself need to be more organized and prioritized first.They cover the all bullshit round the clock and round the year.
I appreciate you coming forward and raising this issue in public.

It is not like he owes anything to the Indian nation (any more than the rest of us.). He is playing cricket because he is amongst the top 11 cricketers today in India. If he is confident enough to retain his place, he can skip whenever he wants giving whatever reason. Wonder what the media would have said if he gave fatigue (like Dhoni did for SL tests a year back) as the reason and attended his sister's wedding anyway.

Cricketers did well for my country than me and first of all they are not government employee. If we have to speak about patriotism we have to speak against politician and corruption. Now a days in my nation children are learning corruption from their parents like how to get an admission with money in good field with lower grade. How to give money to traffic controller?

Family first, period.

when i get the news that gambhir is not playing for the third test because of his sisters wedding,i feel something disappointed.Because he is in good form that time.As india wins the third test, no one cares much of it but if india lost then everybody should criticize him.He is playing good innings this time and this type of criticism is not god for his career.

when i get the news that gambhir is not playing for the third test because of his sisters wedding,i feel something disappointed.Because he is in good form that time.As india wins the third test, no one cares much of it but if india lost then everybody should criticize him.He is playing good innings this time and this type of criticism is not god for his career.

when i get the news that gambhir is not playing for the third test because of his sisters wedding,i feel something disappointed.Because he is in good form that time.As india wins the third test, no one cares much of it but if india lost then everybody should criticize him.He is playing good innings this time and this type of criticism is not good for his career.

I'm sorry I don't agree with what Gambhir did. When Gambhir is getting paid crores of rupees then he's fine with it, but when it comes down to this, he's not. He has an obligation to his country and his team and that takes precedence over his sister's wedding. When you commit to play for India, you commit to putting cricket above all. Plain and simple.

Do people serving the country during the time of war get a break to attend personal needs?

After all its just a game, its not life. You can play another match but...

If I was a cricketer and:
India was in the world cup final and my loved one is on a death bed...to heck with the match.
India was in the world cup final and my sister is getting married...heck with the wedding.
India is playing a regular series and my sister is getting married...sister it is.
All said, it is the individual's decision and learn to respect his decision rather than point fingers...guru and jaideep

I simply dont understand the media attitude, it seems that they dont have any family values. As far as I know the hindu traditions Raksha Bandhan is such a sacred bond that even the girl who ties it to anybody beside her real brother he treats her as her real sister, therfore it was natural for Gautum to be beside her sister at her marriage, brother & sisters are more a freind than the actual relation. So my request to media is to please be sensible to put headlines like that.

He is a best player of india.i liked him for bating style he has better technic and patients batsman.

Totally agree with Akash,. After all Cricket is a game and Cricketers are professional. They also deserves leaves specially when the event like Sister's marriage is gonna happen. Just replace yourself with Gauti, how we react if our Boss did not give us leave. At last Cricket is team game and we are having Sachin , Dravid like legends in our team So there is no issue if Gauti is not playing.

i don't understand how can one expect one to miss his child's birth or sisters wedding just for a cricket match.....after all it's just a game

i don't understand how can one expect one to miss his child's birth or sisters wedding just for a cricket match.....after all it's just a game