Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli have always been on the wrong side of the headlines. As per rumours, there has been a rift between the two since their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) heated exchange after the Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) match ended. The two Delhi boys share the dressing room, with Gambhir being the head coach of the Indian Team.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has shared his insights on the ongoing rumours about the relationship between the head coach Gautam Gambhir and the two seniormost cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The two cricketers now only play one format, which is the ODI, having retired from Test and T20Is.
Devajit Saikia sheds light on the Gambhir vs Virat-Rohit row
There were rumours that Gambhir was behind Kohli and Rohit’s Test retirements last year. As the fans and former cricketers questioned the timing and whether the duo was told they were no longer needed in the traditional format of the game. Rohit Sharma was replaced as ODI captain after winning the ICC Champions Trophy. This came as a shocking decision to many.
Gambhir and the selectors made it clear that there will be no ‘superstar culture’, with even the biggest names of India required to play domestic cricket to get selected in the team.
However, Devajit Saikia categorically denied all claims. He, while speaking on the India Today Podcast, said, “I have never seen them fighting. They are in a very good cordial relationship.”
He was also asked about the infamous fight between the two in the IPL 2023 edition, Devajit Saikia stated, “I haven’t seen it. IPL? Maybe I didn’t see that match because I was with them when they were representing the country. So, IPL: watching every match is not possible.”
BCCI has their comments on the Gambhir vs Kohli rift
After being asked about whether Gautam Gambhir wants Kohli out of the team, Saikia gave a befitting reply, saying, “That perception might be there, but Virat Kohli is always in the team. Gautam Gambhir is also there. We see the results. Have you seen Virat Kohli not being a part of the team?”
Saikia also talked about if Virat Kohli’s Test retirement was also influenced, he replied, “Nobody can force a player of the stature of Virat Kohli to change and make a decision. He is at that level. He is not an ordinary player; he is a legend in Indian cricket. Nobody can force him to make a decision unless he chooses to. The board will not interfere in any player’s career,” said Saikia.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are stalwarts of Indian Cricket
Saikia said after he was asked about the rumours of Gambhir not wanting Kohli and Rohit in the ODI setup, “A lot of people write rubbish also. We cannot comment on rubbish. We don’t see any such things. These things were never brought up in any meetings.”
Kohli had a sensational home tour against South Africa and New Zealand. In the series against the Proteas, he scored 302 runs wining the Player of the Series, and against the Kiwis, he also scored 240 runs. Rohit Sharma was excellent in Australia, scoring one fifty and one hundred in the series.
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