There were rumors of rift between Gambhir and Rohit-Kohli.
Team India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has finally addressed long-standing rumors of his rift with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Speaking at an event on Monday, Gambhir stated that honesty and intent have always been the most crucial aspects of his dressing room, and that he treats everyone equally.
The former India opener was asked about the persistent conjecture on social media and in the media that he does not get along with Kohli and Rohit, who have only recently joined the ODI team after retiring from other formats.
The Indian coach stated that he is human and can make mistakes, but emphasized that actions made with good intentions should be appreciated. He went on to say that the intention behind any move made by team management or players is the most important factor.
“Yes, I am human, and I should be allowed to make mistakes as well. Just like anyone else, players should be allowed to make mistakes. I must have made mistakes in the last 18 months. I don’t shy away from that, but I’ve always believed in one thing. Wrong decision with right intent is acceptable, but wrong decision with wrong intent is absolutely not acceptable in that dressing room,” Gambhir said at a RevSportz event.
“For me, it is very simple. Till the time I am doing everything with honesty, till the time I can be honest to everyone in that dressing room, not only one or two people, but everyone from the masseur to the assistant coach, I can look in their eyes and I can talk to them, looking in their eyes, I think I’m doing a fair job with my position. And that is one thing which I can live with, and that is one thing that I can promise you in the last 18 or 20 months, whatever my tenure has been, I think that is something that I can live with,” he added.
Rumors of a rift between Kohli and Gambhir have persisted for the last few years. The two had intense on-field clashes during the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the most recent occurring in 2023, when Gambhir was the LSG coach, and Kohli was a member of the RCB team.
Speculation intensified after Kohli and Rohit declared their retirement from Test cricket in late 2025. Many believed Gambhir played an important role in this since he intended to form a new squad with Shubman Gill as captain for the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.