Following the footsteps ahead..! After Cricket, now politics will act as a catalyst for Gambhir, serving nations..!

New Delhi, March 22: Just days before the national election, former International Cricketer and recent Padma Shri awardee Gautam Gambhir has joined Bhartiya Janata Party today.

The former Indian Opening Batsman joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad. He also met party chief Amit Shah there.

 

“I am impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. I have contributed to the field of cricket and now hope to do more for the country”, said the 37 years old cricketer in a statement.

Welcoming him to the party, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Gambhir has excelled in his career and the party hopes to utilize his talent. The BJP will benefit from his talent”.

With his reach of nearly nine million followers, the ex-cricketer has been frequently commenting on social and security issues leading to speculation that he was planning to join politics.

 

The speculations are that he will be fielded in the Lok Sabha polls from one of the seats in the national capital. Although, Jaitley, who described Gambhir's joining as an ‘important induction’ into the BJP, said the party’s election committee will take a call at an appropriate time whether to field him in the Lok Sabha polls.

Gambhir has played a key role in India's triumph in the 2011 World Cup and the 2007 T-20 World Cup. Earlier this year, he was conferred with India’s fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri award, and received a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.