It was a big night for Indians on Sunday, June 4, as the country's cricket team defeated Pakistan by 124 runs, getting their Champions Trophy 2017 campaign off to a winning start.
All eyes would definitely have been on the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya on the field. But off the field, the cameras spotted Vijay Mallya in the stands and later with Sunil Gavaskar.
Also read: Vijay Mallya spotted at India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match
Mallya, who is wanted in India and is currently out on bail in London, was seen relaxing in the VIP stand enjoying the India-Pakistan match. The businessman, who had a stadium pass as well as pitch pass, faces court cases over his company's dues worth Rs 9,000 crore to banks, and charges related to embezzlement, debt recovery and foreign exchange transgression.
Mallya was seen wearing his typical white coat and a number of pictures of him that showed him sitting and enjoying the match were shared on Twitter.
Meanwhile Vijay Mallya Relaxing And Watching Match At The Expense Of Our Money.#INDvPAK #INDvsPAK #Yuvi Virat #Kohli #Rohit #SirJadeja pic.twitter.com/OiCOQ5jfZw
— Sir Jadeja (@SirJadeja) 4 June 2017
Vijay Mallya in the stands at Edgbaston in Birmingham #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/RIr5TDW0yJ
— ANI (@ANI_news) 4 June 2017
.@TheVijayMallya, declared absconder in #India, seen watching #INDvPAK match at #Edgbastonhttps://t.co/VYPgYbLQat pic.twitter.com/9NxbGr4zC6
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) 4 June 2017
Is this Vijay Mallya watching the match?#INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/AI6fQqdu7R
— Legion (@legion__group) 4 June 2017
While people on Twitter went into a tizzy over his appearance, some cricket fans also took shots at Gavaskar for hanging out with him. Here is a look at what they had to say about Gavaskar meeting Mallya.
Gavaskar, a man of great integrity with Vijay Mallya, another person with great integrity pic.twitter.com/u0RhkTmv9W
— anand (@ianandv) 4 June 2017
@TimesNow@soulfacts @republic@sunilgavaskar u met Vijay Malaya. Did u nt feel ashamed to hv met a prson wanted by the courts & govt of india
— sanjay (@thedhund) 5 June 2017
such a boring match. Let's go watch #WonderWoman #VijayMallya #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/bnzeQuqSLf
— majid (@mjkhanz) 5 June 2017
@ZeeNews sunil gavaskar bussy talking to vijay mallya in india pak match,this shows his respect for our country...
— RAHUL GOEL (@RAHUL11121987) 5 June 2017
Such a shame that Sunil Gavaskar was seen with him during the match ..
— Amit (@aksdec03) 5 June 2017
What Sunil Gavaskar was doing with him? There is more to it than Mallya getting spotted? Does he hv connections with BCCI as well
— INDRANIL BARAT (@AnArtist90) 5 June 2017
Ladies and gentlemen! Sunil gavaskar, the new CEO of kingfisher ? #INDvPAK
— yuvaraj (@yuvrajfromcbe) 5 June 2017
What's he doing with that Englishman? pic.twitter.com/lBipyvpXjB