Boria Majumdar took to LinkedIn to express his gratitude towards former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir for his support during the renowned sports journalist's two-year ban, imposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In his post, Majumdar detailed how the former India opener stood by him during his challenging times.
Majumdar came under the scrutiny of the BCCI following allegations by Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who claimed that the sport journalist had intimidated him after he declined a request for an interview.
In a LinkedIn post, Majumdar highlighted the challenges of not being able to work as usual and how it affected his ability to cover 2023 ODI World Cup effectively.
"One of the first people I called for help was Gautam Gambhir. Gautam is a good friend and a straight talker. If he did not want to do an interview, he would say so to my face. And that was fine by me. We have known each other for years and have spoken to each other often in the last 24 months. He was aware of what had actually happened and knew my side of the story. I consider him one of the most astute analysts of the game and someone who has helped India win two World Cups,” mentioned Boria Majumdar in his post.
He Doesn’t Give Diplomatic Answers: Boria Majumdar
Majumdar mentions how Gautam Gambhir opemly agreed to be interviewed, showing his characteristic openness and commitment. He emphasized Gambhir's straightforward attitude, acknowledging that while some may see him as opinionated, it's this very quality that makes him compelling.
“Gautam was receptive as always. He heard me out in detail and asked when I wanted to record. No money talk, nothing. It was agreed that we would record the show on a Saturday evening when he was relatively free to do a deep dive. I needed Gautam to put things in perspective for my audience. For that, I needed to ask him all the relevant questions. It couldn’t be a rush job and was only possible when he had time to think and answer every question. If he believes in something, he will definitely do it. Many feel he is headstrong and has strong opinions. He does, but that’s what makes him the man he is,” Majumdar mentioned in his LinkedIn post.
“He doesn’t give diplomatic answers, and as an interviewer that’s what you ask for. In fact, as the interview started, I had very little talking to do. Gautam was intense and passionate and gave me heartfelt answers. Exactly what you need as a host. As the interview ended, Gautam asked me if I was satisfied. He knew the interview was important for me and had done it as a show of support,” he added.