Reports: Virat Kohli not informed before BCCI revealed Gautam Gambhir’s appointment

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. (Source – Twitter/X)

Following the appointment of former India cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, as head coach of the Indian team, succeeding Rahul Dravid, a decision initially endorsed by BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, discussions arose about the dynamics of this new arrangement.

It is important to clarify that the discourse did not stem from doubts about Gambhir’s tactical acumen or his strategic approach. After all, he had been the leading run-scorer for the Indian team in consecutive ICC finals in 2007 and 2011, contributing significantly to memorable victories. Furthermore, Gambhir had also captained the Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 and played a pivotal mentoring role in the franchise’s journey to another title in the 2024 edition.

The concerns primarily centered around the longstanding competitive relationship between star batter, Virat Kohli, and Gambhir, both widely recognized as intense and passionate competitors. Their rivalry first escalated during an IPL 2013 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulting in a highly-charged incident that required intervention from on-field umpires and KKR players to diffuse tensions. Another notable altercation occurred in Lucknow during the 2023 edition of the cash-rich league, where their interactions during the match were marked by intense exchanges, followed by a heated post-match confrontation involving a contentious debate between the two.

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According to the Hindustan Times, Kohli was reportedly not included in the consultation process by the BCCI before the public announcement of Gambhir’s appointment.

“There is enough time for the two to have conversations over the table. But it was important for the BCCI to look at the big picture with many youngsters likely to feature in the coming years,” a BCCI official told the Hindustan Times.

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The report further mentioned that all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, currently at the forefront for India’s next T20I captaincy, was kept informed by the BCCI regarding Gambhir’s appointment.

It will be intriguing to observe the kinetics between Rohit Sharma and Gambhir, particularly given Sharma’s public preference for Rahul Dravid to remain as head coach. Reports have also indicated that both Sharma and Kohli have requested extended leaves from the BCCI, potentially leading to their absence during Gambhir’s inaugural series as head coach against Sri Lanka.

India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting July 28.