India men’s cricket head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed a firm opinion that the country should completely sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan until cross-border terrorism comes to an end. While bilateral cricketing relations between India and Pakistan have been on hold since 2012, Gambhir’s comment gains significance as it extends beyond bilateral matches to include major international tournaments like the ICC World Cups, where the two nations regularly face each other.
The timing of Gambhir’s remarks follows a period of heightened tension at the India-Pakistan border. The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 Indian civilians, sparked strong retaliatory strikes by India targeting terror outfits within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In the aftermath, questions have emerged around India’s participation in upcoming events such as the 2025 Asia Cup.
“This is my personal opinion,” Gambhir stated in an interview. “I have said it before as well — sport, Bollywood, artists, everything is not important. The only thing that’s important is the lives of our civilians and soldiers. There’s nothing bigger than that. Sport can take a backseat, Bollywood movies, artists and everything can take a backseat. My personal opinion is that till this cross-border terrorism is not over, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan. It’s not for the gallery. Trust me, it’s not for the gallery. I am not here to take all this applause. This is my personal opinion. BCCI or the government can have a completely different opinion on it.”
Gambhir’s words underscore a passionate belief that national security must take precedence over cultural or sporting ties. While his views are personal and may not necessarily align with official policy, they reflect a broader sentiment felt by many in the wake of continued unrest at the border.
