Tensions are reportedly brewing within the Indian cricket setup as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned for the ODI series against Australia. Their comeback brought a wave of excitement among fans, but it also highlighted discomfort behind the scenes — particularly in their equation with head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to a Dainik Jagran report, the dynamic between Gambhir and the two senior players has cooled significantly compared to when he first took charge after Rahul Dravid.
A senior BCCI official quoted in the report suggested that the three are no longer on the same page. Discussions about the long-term future of Kohli and Rohit in the Indian setup could take place soon, possibly during the Raipur or Visakhapatnam fixtures of the ongoing series.
The strain is believed to have intensified after Kohli and Rohit stunned everyone by announcing their retirement from Test cricket. The report also made another startling claim — that Rohit Sharma barely communicated with chief selector Ajit Agarkar during the Australia ODIs.
The Australia series marked the duo’s first appearance in India colours since stepping away from the Test format. Kohli endured a shaky start with consecutive ducks but found rhythm in the final match, where Rohit also smashed a century.
BCCI Unhappy With Growing Discord
As India now shifts focus to the South Africa ODIs, murmurs about Kohli's limited interactions with Gambhir continue to grow. The situation has become concerning enough for the BCCI, which is reportedly displeased with the escalating hostility on social media, where sections of Kohli and Rohit supporters have been openly targeting Gambhir.
The board believes this environment is unhealthy, especially when communication among key figures — Kohli, Rohit, Gambhir, and even Agarkar — appears to be dwindling rather than improving.