In the T20 World Cup 2026 final held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was involved in an incident with New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell. During Mitchell's innings, he struck two consecutive sixes off Arshdeep's bowling. Following this, Arshdeep attempted to run Mitchell out by throwing the ball when he noticed that the batsman was slightly out of the crease. The throw, however, was not accurate, hitting Mitchell on the thigh instead. After this moment, both players had a brief exchange of words on the field.

Post-match, Arshdeep clarified that his throw was unintentional and subsequently apologized to Mitchell. However, Gautam Gambhir disagreed with this apology, asserting that such aggressive interactions are a natural part of the game when players compete for their country. He emphasized that there is no harm in showing passion and intensity during a match, hinting at a broader acceptance of emotional expressions in competitive sports.

Gambhir's comments come after the ICC imposed a fine on Arshdeep Singh for the incident, indicating that such aggressive play may have implications during tournaments. While acknowledging the excitement and thrill of cricket, Gambhir is supportive of Arshdeep's on-field demeanor, suggesting that players should embrace their competitive spirit rather than retract it due to momentary disputes.