Kohli’s icy handshake with Gambhir reignites old tensions
India’s dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the third ODI at Vizag was overshadowed by a brief but telling moment between two of its most high-profile cricketing personalities. As Virat Kohli – riding high after an unbeaten 65 and a Player of the Series performance that included two centuries – made his way off the field, he greeted his teammates with warm hugs and celebratory smiles.
However, when it came to head coach Gautam Gambhir, the mood visibly shifted. The handshake between the two was formal, business-like, and lacked the enthusiasm seen in Kohli’s exchanges with others. Social media quickly dissected the footage, reviving whispers of a rift that has lingered since their IPL face-offs.
Though such exchanges are often speculative in nature, the visual contrast in Kohli’s demeanour added weight to rumours of underlying tension. The cold exchange was reminiscent of earlier incidents during the Ranchi ODI, where their interactions also drew similar attention.
Gambhir backs seniors but eyes 2027 transition
Despite the moment raising eyebrows, Gautam Gambhir struck a balanced tone in the post-match press conference. While praising senior players, he also reiterated the importance of grooming young talent with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“Look, they’re quality players. I’ve said it many times as well that they’re world-class players. They are quality players in this format and their experience is really important in the dressing room,” Gambhir said, referring to Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
He added, “They’re doing what they do. They’ve been doing it for such a long time for Indian cricket. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is always going to be important come the white ball format and the 50-over format.”
However, he cautioned against long-term assumptions, noting, “First, you have got to realise that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay in the present, and that young boys coming into the setup grab their opportunities.”
While firmly backing his senior players, Gambhir was equally clear that India’s long-term success in ODIs would hinge on developing a robust bench. His focus, he explained, was not just on the present but on ensuring the team was equipped with depth and versatility by the time the next World Cup arrives.
Gambhir highlighted the team’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the bench by giving exposure to emerging players. On Harshit Rana’s growth, he remarked, “That’s one of the reasons why we are trying to probably develop someone like Harshit, who can actually bat at No. 8 and contribute with a bat.”
He continued, “That’s how we need to find the balance, because come South Africa in two years’ time (2027 ODI WC), we would be needing three proper seamers as well. And if he can continue to develop as a bowling allrounder, it’s going to give us a massive boost.”
The head coach also praised the efforts of young pacers. “With Jaspreet Bumrah coming back and what we saw of Arshdeep, Prasidh and Harshit in this series was incredible because all these three guys do not have a lot of experience, especially in 50-over format. They’ve hardly played, what, less than 15 ODIs. But they’ve done a fabulous job,” he said.
Looking at the batting, Gambhir was encouraged by the contributions of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal. “Someone like Rutu (Gaikwad) has batted out of position, but he’s a quality player. We wanted to give him an opportunity in this series, because of the kind of form he was in with India A. And he grabbed that opportunity with both hands when we were under pressure. Getting that kind of a 100 was proper quality. And Yashasvi as well, we’ve seen how much quality he has, especially in Test cricket. It’s just the start of his career, especially in white-ball cricket. Hopefully he has a massive future ahead and so does Rutu.”
Shastri slams BCCI over ‘needling’ of Kohli and Rohit
While Gambhir played the diplomat, former head coach Ravi Shastri launched a stinging rebuke aimed at the BCCI and team decision-makers. In a teaser video from an upcoming interview with Prabhat Khabar, Shastri issued a blunt warning regarding the mishandling of India’s white-ball icons.
“These two are grandfathers. White-ball giants, toh aise players ke saath aap masti mat karo yaar (don’t fool around with them). Agar unka dimaag theek ho gaya na, and sahi button dabaaye na, sab aaju-baaju nikal jayenge (If their brains get fixed and they press the right button, everyone will run for cover),” said Shastri, with his trademark candour.
When asked who was behind the attempts to unsettle the two players, he tersely replied, “The ones who want to.”
Shastri didn’t stop there. Emphasising their cricketing legacy, he stated, “You can’t buy experience from the market outside. One is a master chaser, the other one has three double centuries in ODI cricket.”
His comments come amid growing speculation that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are being phased out of India’s long-term ODI plans. Despite leading the charge in India’s recent ODI wins, including a successful campaign at the 2025 Champions Trophy, doubts have lingered about their participation in the 2027 World Cup.
BCCI under scrutiny as transition phase unfolds
The backdrop to this situation involves a power dynamic reportedly at play between key figures in Indian cricket. A report by Dainik Jagran highlighted that conversations between Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar had hit a dead-end during the Australia tour, fuelling speculation about internal disagreements over selection policies. Meanwhile, the cold body language between Kohli and Gambhir has done little to dispel ongoing chatter about tension between the two.
Amidst these developments, both Kohli and Rohit have made visible efforts to re-engage with domestic cricket. Kohli’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Rohit’s unexpected decision to join Mumbai for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy knockouts, signal a willingness to align with expectations — potentially to remain in contention for ODIs ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Meanwhile, public sentiment continues to lean heavily in favour of the seasoned duo, especially given their recent performances — Kohli with two centuries and a fifty, and Rohit with consistent half-centuries and a hundred in the past few ODIs.
With India navigating a tricky transition between youth and experience, the spotlight remains firmly on how the management handles two of its biggest names. As Shastri’s words echo and social media dissects every moment, the Indian team’s off-field equations are nearly as scrutinised as their on-field results.
