India’s newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday addressed the much-discussed relationship with batting stalwart Virat Kohli, stating that their dynamic is a private matter and not for public consumption. Gambhir and Kohli have had notable confrontations over the years, particularly during their time in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, their rivalry will now transition into a collaborative effort as they prepare for the upcoming T20I and ODI tour of Sri Lanka starting July 27.
Addressing the speculation surrounding his relationship with Kohli, Gambhir asserted, “My relationship with Virat Kohli is between the two of us and not for TRP.” He further elaborated, “We have had lots of discussions and everyone has the right to fight for their jersey.”
With the recent retirements of senior players Rohit Sharma and Kohli from the T20 International format following India’s title win at the T20 World Cup last month, Gambhir highlighted the significance of workload management for key players like Jasprit Bumrah. “Workload for someone like Jasprit Bumrah is important,” Gambhir emphasized. “Now that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play only two formats, I expect them to be available for most games.”
Gambhir’s comments underscore the focus on managing player workload as India enters a new era in the T20 format, with the Sri Lanka tour marking the beginning of this transition.
