Gautam Gambir is known for his way of playing in cricket. He while asked about the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to name Salman Khan as Indian Olympic contingent`s Goodwill Ambassador, he said, “I would have been happy if someone like Abhinav Bindra would have been named as an ambassador. There are a lot of sportspersons who have done a lot for the sport. Ideally, one among them should have been given that responsibility. Sportspersons do not need publicity; they do the job for the country. This does not give real excitement to a sportsperson.”

“I think a sportsperson should have been a much-preferred choice. As he (Bindra) is the first guy who has won a gold medal at the Olympics. He would have been the ideal choice. I have heard someone saying that sportsmen need publicity and sportspersons need Bollywood -my take is completely different,” said Gambhir.

Gavaskar is appointed as an ambassador who evoked mixed responses told that it would benefit choosing Salman as an ambassador with the example of IPL through its association with Bollywood stars. “Why not a known face who is not really a part of that particular profession. If he can bring a lot more awareness to that particular profession then why not? I don’t see anything wrong in it,” Gavaskar told.

“Salman Khan may not have competed but is an A level swimmer, cyclist, and weightlifter. Sportsmen are performing because of sports lovers like us,” Salim Khan father of Salman Khan wrote.