Is there a rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir? India’s batting coach opens up on viral rumours

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As India prepare for the decisive third ODI against England, a fresh wave of social media speculation has surrounded senior batter Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Clips from India’s training session at Edgbaston went viral after broadcast cameras showed the two cricketing figures working in close proximity without any visible conversation. The footage quickly fueled claims online that Kohli and Gambhir were not speaking to each other during the ongoing series.

The rumours gained traction because of the duo’s well-documented history. Kohli and Gambhir have been involved in two high-profile on-field altercations during different Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, incidents that often resurface whenever the two are seen together. Several fans interpreted the training visuals as evidence of lingering tension, despite there being no official indication of any disagreement within the Indian camp. Speaking about the same, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has now addressed the speculation and shared his take on viral social media claims.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the series decider, Kotak rubbished suggestions that Kohli and Gambhir were avoiding each other during training. According to the batting coach, the two had multiple conversations throughout the day, making the online claims baseless.

“Virat and Gautam, they must have talked 10 times today. I don’t think they need a bridge. I don’t know where the rumours come from, but they do come,” Kotak said.

He also explained his own approach while working with Kohli, revealing that the veteran batter prefers minimal interference unless he specifically seeks technical input.

“Virat, basically, before going into batting, he talked about certain things. Because Virat, I honestly say, as a batting coach, till the time he doesn’t feel anything, or if he doesn’t see anything, his batting shouldn’t be disturbed. And we shouldn’t say much, the way he bats,” Kotak added.

Kotak’s comments are expected to put an end to the speculation, reinforcing that the dressing room remains united despite the narratives circulating on social media. Since Gambhir took over as India’s head coach, there has been considerable public interest in his equation with Kohli because of their past IPL confrontations. However, members of the team management have consistently maintained that both are fully committed to India’s success.

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The controversy comes in the aftermath of India’s four-wicket defeat in the second ODI at Cardiff, where England bounced back strongly to level the three-match series 1-1.

After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first and quickly put India under pressure. The visitors never found sustained momentum and were eventually dismissed for 233 in 44 overs. Kohli looked in fine touch, compiling a fluent 65 off 66 deliveries, while Shreyas Iyer added a fighting 66. Despite the pair rebuilding the innings after early setbacks, India’s middle order failed to capitalise, leading to another collapse that kept the total below par.

England’s chase was anchored by the ever-reliable Joe Root, who produced an unbeaten 99 to steer the hosts home with remarkable composure. Root paced the innings perfectly, ensuring England crossed the finish line with 35 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

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