Indian captain Rohit Sharma has finally cleared the air about his alleged rift with head coach Gautam Gambhir after the chief selector announced the squad for the upcoming ODI series against England and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
There have been many rumors of differences between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, especially after the controversial Indian dressing room leaked during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. in Australia. Many reports claimed that the captain and coach were not on the same page during the dramatic Test series in Australia.
Rohit Sharma denies rift with coach Gautam Gambhir
However, the Indian captain’s latest statement categorically denied any cold war with the head coach. Rohit Sharma insisted that there is a lot of respect and understanding between him and Gautam Gambhir and that they trust each other.
Speaking to the media after India’s ODI and 2025 Champions Trophy squad announcement, Rohit Sharma put to rest all speculations about tactical differences with Gautam Gambhir. The Indian captain highlighted the strong mutual understanding and highlighted their clarity of roles.
Rohit Sharma told the media at a press conference on Saturday (January 18) in Mumbai, “Both of us are very clear about what we want to do. I’m not going to sit here and discuss what goes on behind the scenes, every tactical match. But it’s very clear to me.”
Gautam Gambhir trusts what the captain does on the field: Rohit Sharma
The Indian captain also revealed that Gambhir offers his strategic insights in the dressing room, but when the team takes the field, he completely takes control in his hands. He emphasized that there is an element of respect between them and that helps them work as a team for Team India.
Rohit signed off by saying, “Gautam Gambhir is beautiful…once we get on the field, he believes in what the captain does on the field. The basic conversations that take place are only off the field. On the field, or maybe in the locker room, when we go out on the field, it’s all about what I do on the field. That’s the kind of trust we have in each other. That’s how it should be. That’s about it.”
Namely, Gautam was not accompanied by Ajit Agarkar and Rohit at the team announcements on Saturday. The Indian selectors and team management have made some bold but surprising calls for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India will play 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs before ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The three-match ODI series between India and England will begin on February 6 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The second ODI will be held in Cuttack on February 9 and the final ODI is scheduled on February 12 in Ahmedabad. Before the ODI series, they will play 5 T20Is.
The Men in Blue will then kick off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai, followed by a blockbuster clash with Pakistan on February 23.
