BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla refuted on Monday that there is a rift between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma, while also expressing support for the senior batter, who is now experiencing a big drop in form.

India was thrashed 1-3 by Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series, with Rohit scoring just 31 runs in the series, prompting him to withdraw from the lineup for the fifth and final Test in Sydney.

There was also speculation that Rohit Sharma developed differences with coach Gautam Gambhir and there was tension in the dressing room as well, thanks to his poor batting form and that of Virat Kohli.

“It’s completely wrong statement, there is no rift between the chairman of selection (Ajit Agarkar) and the coach, there is no rift between captain and coach. This is all rubbish which is being spread in a section of media," Shukla was quoted by PTI.

It was widely assumed that Gambhir had handed an ultimatum to the seniors: either perform or be prepared to be benched.

“This is also wrong that Rohit has insisted on captaincy. He is the captain. Form or lack of form is part and parcel of the game. These are phases, nothing new. When he saw he is out of form, he dropped himself from the fifth Test," he added.

Shukla also said that the recent review meeting to assess the team’s performance has thrashed out the way forward.

“Review meeting is complete. We have discussed the way forward and how to do well," he said.

Shukla underlined that the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy will be announced on Sunday. The selectors delayed the announcement to await the fitness status of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who injured his back during the Australia tour.

“Squad for Champions Trophy will be known after a meeting on January 18 or 19," he said.

(PTI inputs)