Gautam Gambhir’s era as the head coach of the Indian Cricket team is all set to begin next week, as the world champions head to Sri Lanka for a white-ball series. Gambhir alongside the Chairman of selection committee Ajit Agarkar addressed a pre-departure press conference where they clarified reasons behind the certain key decisions and also answered several other questions.
Two of the greats of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are going to work together after a long time. The two have had their share of run-ins on the field while representing their respective sides in the Indian Premier League. Gambhir in his address to the media opened up about the equation they share and said that it is “between two mature individuals” and not for public consumption. He also said that the two are “on the same page” when it comes to the shared goal of achieving success for the men’s national team.
“Good for the TRP, but my relationship is not public,” Gambhir said when asked about Kohli in his first press conference since assuming his new role. “What kind of relationship do I share with Virat Kohli, I think it is between two mature individuals.
“On the field, everyone has got the right to fight for their team, for their jersey, and want to come back in a winning dressing room. But, at the moment, I think you are representing India and representing 140 crore Indians and I am sure we are going to be on the same page and try and make India proud.
“I share a very good relationship off the field and we will continue to do that. But yes, to make it more public what kind of a relationship [we have] I think it is between two individuals.”
Virat and Gambhir have had few verbal spats on the field, in the past. They had a scrap during an IPL match in 2013 when Gambhir was the Kolkata Knight Riders captain and was playing against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ten years down the lane another incident happened between the two individuals, when Gambhir was the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants. After LSG’s 1-run victory over RCB, Gambhir was seen shushing the Bangalore crowd which Virat didn’t like, and reprised the gesture in Lucknow. Things took a more dramatic turn post the game and Kohli and Gambhir had to be pulled apart by people around them in the end.
However in IPL 2024, both the giants of Indian cricket were seen having some happy conversations and shared some light moments in public. When asked about his relationship with Kohli, Gambhir had said “Perception was far from reality”. And when Kohli was asked about it during the season, he said: “I hugged Naveen [ul-Haq, with whom he had an altercation in IPL 2023], and then the other day, Gauti bhai came and hugged me… We’re not kids anymore.”
Gambhir further added that he and Virat have had a few conversations lately. He however would like to keep it private and not divulge too much information regarding it.
“How many chats have I had with him, after my announcement or before my announcement, during the games, after the games – I think sometimes just because we want headlines – it is not important,” Gambhir said. “The most important thing right now is that we both have got to be working extremely hard to make India proud. And that is our job.
“He is a thorough professional, he is a world-class athlete, he is a world-class player. I have always said that. I have huge respect for him as a player and it is going to continue. And hopefully we can work together really well.”
