New Delhi: Former England pacer Steve Harmison feels Gautam Gambhir’s post-match comments about personal milestones after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph were directed at senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. In the post-match presser after India’s thumping 96-run win over New Zealand in the final, Gambhir stressed the importance of putting the team first over personal milestones.
Gambhir explained he told his players to play as per the team’s requirements and not think about personal milestones. The India head coach said a player going after a milestone often ends up costing a few crucial runs, which can come back to haunt his team later in the game. Harmison said the comments were aimed at Kohli and Rohit.
The former England pacer, who is known for his sarcasm, said he has struggled with Gambhir both as a player and a coach, however, he enjoyed the India head coach firing shots at his senior players. Rohit and Kohli have retired from T20Is and Tests, but continue to play ODIs, and the duo are integral to India’s plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup next year.
“I enjoyed that from Gambhir. I thought it was a little dig at Rohit and Virat, talking about not being interested in milestones and only about the team winning… I like that. I sometimes struggle with Gautam. I did struggle with Gautam as a player and I did struggle with him as a coach. But I liked that little dig at Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” Harmison said on the talkSPORT YouTube channel.
“We might have everything going in our favour, but it’s about the team. It’s about the dressing room, and it’s not about individual milestones. It’ll be interesting when they walk back into the 50-over dressing room in the not-too-distant future, hearing that. He has got some kudos now because he has just won a trophy,” added the former England pacer.
Gambhir etched his name in record books with India’s memorable T20 World Cup triumph as he became the first to win the trophy both as a player and a coach. The former India opener was part of the Indian squad that lifted the trophy in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni in 2007. Gambhir top-scored for India with a brilliant 75-run knock in the final against Pakistan.