Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir had a heated argument during an IPL 2023 match in Lucknow before reconciling this season.
Gautam Gambhir’s much-anticipated appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team was made official on Tuesday, with the former opener succeeding Rahul Dravid. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also confirmed that Gambhir will join the team for the next white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month. The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which included Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, unanimously endorsed Gambhir for the head coaching position.
Gambhir was the only one who showed up for the interview, along with former Indian batter WV Raman. The 42-year-old is the youngest Indian head coach ever to be appointed.
According to Hindustan Times, star batter Virat Kohli was not consulted by the BCCI before Gambhir’s appointment was made public.
Nobody knows the details of Kohli and Gambhir’s abrasive on-field friendship. Both were involved in an ugly spat during an IPL 2023 match in Lucknow.
While the two embraced each other multiple times during IPL 2024, Kohli’s opinion wasn’t sought by the BCCI as he is no longer part of the T20I set-up.
There is plenty opportunity for the two to engage in dialogue around the table. A BCCI source told Hindustan Times that while many young players are expected to play in the upcoming years, it was crucial for the organization to consider the big picture.
Following the T20 World Cup, both Kohli and India captain Rohit Sharma declared their retirement from T20Is.
According to the report, the BCCI informed star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is leading the competition to be India’s next T20I captain, of Gambhir’s appointment.
But it would be interesting to watch how India skipper Rohit Sharma gets along with Gambhir, particularly after the star batsman revealed that he wished Dravid would stay on as head coach.
Additionally, according to reports, both Rohit and Kohli have requested extended leaves from the BCCI. As a result, it is possible that both players will miss Gambhir’s first series as head coach against Sri Lanka.
As many ODIs and three T20Is will be played between India and Sri Lanka beginning on July 28.
