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Gautam Gambhir was dropped from Team India because of his 'attitude problem': Sandeep Patil

Sandeep Patil has said that Gautam Gambhir ended their friendship when he selected Shikhar Dhawan for the Indian team.

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Many consider Gautam Gambhir to be an unsung hero of Indian cricket. Gambhir was a part of two World Cup winning campaigns for India - in 2007 and 2011. He was India's highest run-scorer in both the finals. However, as luck would have it - others hogged the limelight. 

Gambhir was once considered the No.2 in the Indian team after MS Dhoni- he even captained India in absence of MSD. However, his star fell soon. 

Things took a downturn soon after 2011 World Cup and he lost his place in the national side. 

According to former chief selector Sandeep Patil it was Gambhir's attitude that was the problem. 

"He was dropped from the Indian team and the main reason behind it was his ever-growing so-called ‘attitude problem’,” Sandeep Patil wrote in an article for The Quint.

"It was due to his ‘angry young man’ attitude that I nicknamed him the Amitabh Bachchan of Indian cricket," wrote Patil.

The article came just two days after Gambhir quit as captain of IPL side Delhi Daredevils. 

Patil said that Gambhir's decision to return back to India after being hit by a bouncer during 2011 England series cost him dearly. He wrote that the scans revealed that Gambhir's injury was not serious at all and he could have continued in that series. 

Patil also revealed that he and Gambhir were friends for 7-8 years but the Delhi opener ended their friendship after he was dropped from the Indian team while Patil was the chief selector.

Gambhir's return to the Indian side was made tougher by the rise of his Delhi teammate Shikhar Dhawan. 

Patil was the chairman of the Selection Committee at the time and decided to give Dhawan a chance in place of a struggling Gambhir. Later on, all doors were shut for Gambhir as Murali Vijay too was performing well as an opener.

According to Patil, things have not improved between the duo and Patil believes that Gambhir is still angry with him. However, Patil said that Gautam Gambhir will always remain his favourite cricketer.

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