Indian batting legend Virat Kohli reportedly assured the BCCI that his previous issues with Gautam Gambhir won’t affect his professional relationship with the new India team head coach.
Gautam Gambhir is set to start his tenure as India team head coach with a limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka and the BCCI announced the Team India squads for both the T20i and ODI series on Thursday.
The ODI squad saw the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the fold. Rohit Sharma will captain the ODI side in Sri Lanka. India will face Sri Lanka in three T20Is on July 27, 28, and 30, and then take on the Islanders in three ODIs on August 2, 4, and 7. The Indian T20I side will be captained by Suryakumar Yadav.
Kohli, who is currently spending time with family in London, was a surprise inclusion in the ODI team after it was reported earlier that he would be rested for the white-ball series.
Meanwhile, as per a Cricbuzz report, BCCI had a talk with Virat Kohli who assured them that he was comfortable working with Gautam Gambhir, despite the issues the two had in the past.
According to the report, the former Indian captain communicated the message clearly to the BCCI officials that his previous issues would not affect their professional relationships.
“Kohli is believed to have stated that previous issues will not affect their professional relationship in the dressing room. Following the (T20) World Cup final in Barbados, discussions were reportedly held on the matter. Kohli, who, like Gambhir, is from Delhi, assured the concerned parties that he recognizes both are working towards the country’s interests and is ready to move on from earlier disagreements,” the Cricbuzz report stated.
Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma were to skip the Sri Lanka tour altogether, but Gambhir informed the BCCI selectors that this being his first assignment as head coach, he wanted the senior players to be part of the Indian team. The BCCI had a talk with Rohit and Kohli and the duo agreed to play the ODIs.
However, there was a consensus on giving rest to premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
