Gautam Gambhir donated Rs 4 lakhs to the Ice Hockey team

Last week, the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) team took to social media to 'beg' for money, seeking to crowdfund their trip to Kuwait where an Asia-level tournament is being held later this month.

When Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir donated Rs 4 lakhs on Tuesday to help the cash-strapped team, it came as a pleasant surprise.

This is what Gauti's official Facebook page says:

Gautam Gambhir has donated Rs.4 lakh to help the Indian Ice hockey team in their quest for participation in the 2015... Posted by Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday, 14 April 2015

"I felt it is a moral responsibility to support the game of ice hockey, it is a disgrace that in a country like India where sports have so much support these games are neglected. As a sportsman I believe I should always support smaller games," Gauti said on his Facebook page.

Social media is all praises for the cricketer.

Gautam Gambhir donates 4.00 lacs ($ 6700) to the Ice Hockey Association of India to enable the team to participate in an Asian event. Great - Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 15, 2015

On Twitter, the ice hockey team had said that the sport receives government funding only to attend the Olympics.

It is so tough to push sports like Ice Hockey when cricket takes up all sponsor budgets. We have a national team and are begging for money. - Ice Hockey India (@icehockeyindia) March 5, 2015

They also said that the players don't have funds for their gear or to travel for the International Ice Hockey Federation Challenge Cup.

In our cricket-crazy nation, while cricket stars earn millions, other sports depend largely on government funding. The ice hockey team is denied even that option.

Using the hashtag #SupportIcehockey, the ice hockey team has been urging supporters to donate anything from Rs 100 up to Rs 1 lakh.

According to their website, the team has collected Rs 5, 35,260 so far.

Earlier, entrepreneur Anand Mahindra and the BJP in Lucknow had taken notice:

Yes, looking into it.. "@chikkigarg: Sir pls donate funds to Indian Ice Hockey Team.They are short of to enter the qualifying match." - anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 5, 2015

Big thanks to @BJPLucknowBJP for making the donation towards the Indian National Ice Hockey Team, We greatly appriciate your support! - Ice Hockey India (@icehockeyindia) April 1, 2015

The tournament begins on 18 April.