The NDTV Sports article accurately reports the strong online reaction against Gautam Gambhir following pacer Arshdeep Singh's impactful return in the 3rd One-Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand on January 18, 2026. Arshdeep, who had been excluded from the initial two matches of the series, made an instant statement by dismissing New Zealand opener Henry Nicholls in his very first over at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. The decision by the Indian team management, particularly attributed to head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, to bench Arshdeep Singh for the first two ODIs in favor of Prasidh Krishna had already sparked significant debate and social media backlash. Fans and former cricketers like Irfan Pathan and R Ashwin openly questioned the selection policy, calling it 'favouritism' and criticizing the continuous backing of Prasidh Krishna, who they felt 'always goes for runs.' Arshdeep's immediate success upon his return intensified this criticism, with many online users calling Gambhir 'dumb' and 'shameful' for not playing him regularly. The match itself was the series decider, with both teams tied at 1-1. India opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Despite Arshdeep's early breakthrough and other contributions, New Zealand posted a challenging total and ultimately defeated India by 41 runs, clinching the series 2-1. This marked New Zealand's first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil in 37 years. The core claims of the NDTV article are well-supported by multiple credible sources, making the news factual, though the headline employs a strong quote to reflect public sentiment.