On Past Conflicts With Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli’s Clear Message To BCCI

As Gautam Gambhir begins his tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, many are curious about what this means for Virat Kohli, who has had several on-field confrontations with the former India opener. Following Rahul Dravid’s departure as India’s head coach, Gambhir emerged as the preferred candidate, particularly due to his recent successes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With Kohli set to participate in India’s ODI series against Sri Lanka, this will be the first time he and Gambhir will work together on the same team.

In light of this, a report from Cricbuzz confirms that Kohli has assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that his past differences with Gambhir will not affect their professional relationship within the team. Both are committed to the success of the Indian team, alleviating any concerns the board may have had.

Known for their passionate approach to the game, Gambhir and Kohli have had heated encounters on the field, whether as IPL captains or in their respective franchise roles. However, tensions seemed to have eased after Gambhir joined Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor, and their interaction during an IPL 2024 match appeared amicable.

Gambhir has previously addressed his relationship with Kohli, stating that the public’s perception is far from the reality. He emphasized that their bond is personal and not for public entertainment.

“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. Kohli also acknowledged the public’s reaction to his gestures of reconciliation with Naveen-ul-Haq and 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,” Kohli had said during a Puma event. Initially, both Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma were not expected to play in the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, given that it is Gambhir’s first series as head coach, both made themselves available for selection.