India’s newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s equation with star batter Virat Kohli remains a mystery for the cricket fans and experts alike.
During the IPL 2013 season, the then KKR skipper was involved in a heated face-off with the RCB legend before they were separated by other players.
A similar incident was also witnessed in last year’s IPL as the then LSG mentor Gambhir had an ugly spat with Kohli. That altercation had created quite a stir in the cricket fraternity and it continues to draw attention even today.
However, the cricket fans saw an unexpected on-field reunion between Gambhir and Kohli in the IPL 2024 season. They shared smiles and hugs during the two KKR versus RCB games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and the Eden Gardens.
As the two gear up to be reunited during the ODI series against Sri Lanka in a few days, former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator Scott Styris opined that the association between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli will be a case of 'wait and see'.
"Yeah, it's a really good question. I think it's wait and see. I don't think anyone can sit here and say it's gonna work that well or it's not gonna work. I think both players will just tap to bite their tongue a little bit and observe and watch the way that, in Virat's case, watch the way Gautam's looking to run the team and Gautam will be looking for Virat's leadership to help all the younger players," Styris told India Today in an exclusive chat.
According to Styris, both men have smart cricketing brains and they will find a way to make their equation work.
"So there's so much that we don't know about that relationship and how it's going to operate in a team with two different players having two different levels of power in that group as well. So I think they're both. Firstly, they're both terrific cricketers. They both have very good cricket brains. I think they'd both be smart enough to work out a way where it can be beneficial to the team and their performances," he remarked.
While addressing a press conference before departing for the tour of Sri Lanka last week, Gautam Gambhir had spilled the beans on talks surrounding his relationship with Virat Kohli, saying that they are “good for TRPs”.
"Good for the TRP, but my relationship is not public. What kind of a relationship I share with Virat Kohli... I think it's between two mature individuals. On the field, everyone has got the right to fight for their own jersey and come back to a winning dressing room. But at the moment, we're representing India, representing 140 crore Indians and I'm sure we're going to be on the same page and try and make India proud. I share a very good relationship off the field and will continue to do that. But yes, to make it more public what kind of a relationship... I think it's between two individuals,” Gambhir told reporters.
"I've had a lot of chats with him... we've shared messages. It's not important what we discussed, how many chats have I had with him, after my announcement or before my announcement or during the game, after the games. Sometimes, just because we want headlines, it's not important. Right now, the most important thing is we both are going to be working extremely hard to make India proud. And that's our job," he added.
The ODI series between India and Sri Lanka is slated to get underway on August 2 in Colombo.
