Gautam Gambhir | Photo Credit: PTI

Gautam Gambhir hit the headlines earlier this week as he announced that he would be stepping down from the captaincy of the Delhi Daredevils, with Shreyas Iyer to lead the team for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 campaign. He took full responsibility for the side's poor start to the season and after this announcement, he spoke at another event about the relations between India and Pakistan, which snowballed into a huge controversy on social media.

Gambhir has always been vocal about his thoughts on India's relations with neighbours Pakistan and was quoted as saying by ANI on Friday, "Merely boycotting cricketing ties with Pakistan will not help. If a ban is imposed, it should be in all sectors, be it films, music or any other. Nobody from Pakistan should be provided an opportunity to perform in India unless the relations between the two neighbours improve."

He then added, "In the recent past, we have initiated talks with Pakistan on many occasions, but no substantial outcome has been achieved. Every country has its own level of patience and importance. First thing, of course, is to talk; but if that doesn't work, one has to take strict action. There is no point in politicising the matter."

His words drew mixed reactions from users on social media and was called a 'verbal terrorist' by Australian journalist Dennis Freedman, who had tweeted, "Gautam Gambhir is a verbal terrorist. The crap he said again today re relationship between India / Pakistan is dangerous." (sic)

Gautam Gambhir is a verbal terrorist.



The crap he said again today re relationship between India / Pakistan is dangerous. — Dennis Jai Hind (@DennisCricket_) April 27, 2018

However, he was heavily criticised by Indians in response, who pointed out that what Gambhir said was correct. Here are a few reactions:

Says an Australian journalist where the whole Australian media stands at no.1 in the list of most idiotic media

U better focus on your GREAT TEAM — arun kumar (@arunmadhavuni) April 29, 2018

He said truth bro...

Pakistan does not deserve anything...

We can't need any relationship with Country like Pakistan... — Hasrat Khokhar(@hasratkh0khar) April 27, 2018

What you do on twitter is equally dangerous. — VJA (@vineethJA) April 27, 2018

Dennis the MENACE — JN BRA (@meJOONbora) April 29, 2018

Yours is verbal diarrhea! #pakholesyndrome — K Guru Prasad (@Guru_Sayz) April 29, 2018

This is not the first time Indian fans have gone on firing all cylinders to defend Indian cricketers on social media. Most recently, another storm was created as Cricket Australia's Facebook page posted a video of Sachin Tendulkar getting dismissed on the day of his birthday and Indian users trolled CA heavily for it.