India Capitals were knocked out of the Legends League Cricket 2023 after a defeat to Manipal Tigers by 6 wickets. In the match, skipper Gautam Gambhir, attempting a quick single, got run-out by Amitoze Singh's direct throw. Gambhir's tournament ended with 144 runs from six matches, including two scores of 50+. Sreesanth, amid their ongoing feud, celebrated Gambhir's dismissal on social media, congratulating the fielder.
Sreesanth had accused Gambhir of repeatedly calling him a fixer, leading to a public spat. Bhuvneshwari Kumari Sreesanth, Sreesanth's wife, joined in, expressing disbelief at Gambhir's actions. In response, Gambhir posted on social media, prompting an enraged comment from Sreesanth, who criticized Gambhir for crossing the boundaries of sportsmanship.
During the game, Gambhir remained silent on the controversy and focused on discussing his team's performance in the post-match presentation. India Capitals couldn't defend 177 runs, and Manipal Tigers won convincingly in Qualifier 2, with Clin de Grandhomme (38*) and Asela Gunaratne (39*) securing an unbeaten partnership to chase the target in 18.4 overs. Despite the on-field rivalry, Gambhir refrained from addressing the dispute with Sreesanth during the game.
The heated exchange between Sreesanth and Gambhir had its roots in the former's allegation of being called a fixer by Gambhir. Sreesanth's comments on social media and his wife's reactions intensified the conflict. Gambhir, however, maintained focus on the game and refrained from responding to the controversy. In the end, Manipal Tigers emerged victorious, ending India Capitals' campaign in the Legends League Cricket 2023.
Notably, Sreesanth along with two other Rajasthan Royals cricketers were banned by the BCCI for their alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scandal in 2013. After years of legal battle, Sreesanth got a clean chit. In March 15, 2019, the Supreme Court of India set aside the life ban imposed on Sreesanth by the BCCI.
The apex court directed the cricketing body to reconsider the punishment within three months, acknowledging that Sreesanth should be given an opportunity to be heard regarding the quantum of the sanction.
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