Virat Kohli's Strong Message To BCCI On Gautam Gambhir Disputes
As Gautam Gambhir embarks on his journey as the head coach of the Indian cricket team , many are curious about the dynamics this will create with Virat Kohli , a player who has had several intense on-field encounters with the former India opener. Following Rahul Dravid 's departure from the head coach position, Gambhir emerged as the clear favorite, largely due to his impressive work in the Indian Premier League ( IPL ) over the past few years.
With Virat Kohli agreeing to participate in India's ODI series against Sri Lanka , this marks the first occasion they will collaborate in the national team setup.
In this context, a report from Cricbuzz has revealed that Kohli has reassured the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) that their past differences will not affect their professional relationship within the Indian team. Both are committed to the same goal—the success of the Indian team—leaving little for the board to worry about.
Gambhir and Kohli are both known for their passionate approach to the game. Whether as rival captains in the IPL or as senior players in their respective franchises, their on-field interactions have often been intense. However, after Gambhir transitioned to a mentoring role with the Kolkata Knight Riders, their rapport appeared amicable when they met during an IPL 2024 match.
A few months back, Gambhir commented on his relationship with Kohli, highlighting that the public perception doesn't reflect the reality.
"The perception is far away from the reality. My relationship with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn't need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public," Gambhir had said.
Virat Kohli also acknowledged the public's reaction after he embraced Naveen-ul-Haq and Gautam Gambhir.
"People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai [Gautam Gambhir] came and hugged me. Your masala is over, so you're booing. We're not kids anymore," Virat had said during a Puma event.
Initially, neither Kohli nor captain Rohit Sharma were expected to play in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, given that it is Gambhir's debut series as head coach, both players made themselves available for selection.
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