Gautam Gambhir Addresses Claims of Rift With Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli, Says ‘Being Pitted Against My…’

By Correspondent On Jan 22, 2026

For some time now, Gautam Gambhir has been cast as the chief antagonist of Indian cricket, with many convinced that he is masterminding the gradual sidelining of senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. From their reported decisions to opt out of Test cricket to discussions around compulsory participation in domestic matches, the Indian head coach has been blamed for just about every contentious call. Despite recent struggles for India in Tests and ODIs, a dominant narrative has taken hold that Gambhir is eager to look beyond Kohli and Rohit.

Gambhir has always taken a more holistic view, rarely forgetting to mention how the 2027 World Cup is two years away and no player’s spot is assured. Though the message applies for the entire squad, online critics and commentators have only read into it selectively, which led to a lot of speculation and backlash. The issue was addressed indirectly for the first time by Gambhir when, though not naming anyone, he made his stand pretty clear.

Gambhir has now indirectly spoken about the ongoing narratives for the first time but did not mention any names.

“When the dust settles, truth & logic about a coach’s supposedly “unlimited authority” will become clear. Till then, I’m amused at being pitted against my own who are the very best,” Gambhir shared on X in reply to a post by Shashi Tharoor.

Thanks a lot Dr @ShashiTharoor! When the dust settles, truth & logic about a coach’s supposedly “unlimited authority” will become clear. Till then I’m amused at being pitted against my own who are the very best! https://t.co/SDNzLt73v5

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 21, 2026

There are several rumors linked to the player. According to a report in PTI, the relations between the player and ex-captain Rohit Sharma were so sour that they maintained a safe distance during some of the training camps. On the other hand, according to a report in Dainik Jagran, communication between Gambhir and Rohit was almost non-existent during the Indian ODI series in Australia in October. It is also believed that the relations between Gambhir and Virat Kohli are not as warm as before, with just formal interaction happening.

Shortly after India’s disappointing tour of South Africa in December, Gambhir clearly stated that he does not intend to resign as the head coach voluntarily, although he will accept any subsequent decision made by the BCCI. It was also around the same period that reports emerged that the BCCI might choose a red ball advisor for the team, which was later denied by the BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia.