Australia ball-tampering scandal: Gautam Gambhir asks if Steve Smith, David Warner are paying price for their pay-hike revolt?

While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh. Are @stevesmith49 & @davidwarner31 paying for revolt for pay hike? History has it administrators deride those who standup for players’ cause. Classic case: Ian Chappell #BallTampering #StevenSmith

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

However, Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir felt that Steve Smith and Davin Warner were the primary voices during the senior team's pay hike dispute with the establishment might have played a role in their ouster.

Feel sorry for @stevesmith49 dad (in pic) other family members. Hope media n Aussie public go easy on them as families can be soft targets. More than d ban living wid this feeling of being called a cheat is a bigger punishment. #BallTamperingRow pic.twitter.com/L2sV8BgWAH

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

The former Aussie captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner have been banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia along with Australian opener Cameron Bancroft for 9 months for their involvement in ball tampering against South Africa in Test in Cape Town.

Delhi Daredevils skipper Gambhir counsel the Australian media and the general public to leisure a thought for the families of the players.

I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal pic.twitter.com/xOxAM45QXM

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

The veteran left-hander wrote a series of tweets and expressed his reactions to the Australian ball-tampering scandal and Steve Smith.
Gambhir further added that he couldn't term Steve Smith a 'cheat' and would rather call him a "desperate leader" trying to win a Test match.

The BCCI has barred Steve Smith and David Warner from the 11th edition of IPL following the decision of the Cricket Australia after they were found guilty in the ball-tampering.

Also read: Steve Smith on ball tampering scandal: I'll regret this for the rest of my life; breaks down into tears at press conference