The Indian head coach has been held accountable for everything that has gone wrong in Indian cricket, including their choice to retire from Test cricket and make domestic cricket mandatory. There is a notion running around that, despite the recent run of subpar Test and ODI performances, Gambhir wants Kohli and Rohit out of the Indian team.
Gambhir has always said that the 2027 World Cup is two years down the line and nobody is confirmed yet, while speaking about Rohit and Kohli. Although this is true for everyone, internet trolls and haters have simply linked the dots as they see fit. As a result, Gambhir cryptically addressed the issue on a social media post and spoke without naming people.
“When the dust settles, truth & logic about a coach’s supposedly “unlimited authority” will become clear. Till then, I’m amused at being pitted against my own who are the very best,” Gambhir shared on X in reply to a post by Shashi Tharoor.
Gambhir has been on the receiving end of all sorts of criticism. For example, he was referred to as the ‘worst coach since Greg Chappell’ and much more. Not to mention his social media memes, which make him the target of mockery. It is understandable that his unconventional methods and strange squad combinations have failed to produce good results have drawn in criticism. Congress MP Tharoor met Gambhir recently and defended him against criticism by saying he got the hardest job in India after the PM.
“In Nagpur, enjoyed a good & frank discussion with my old friend Gautam Gambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s! He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm &walks on undaunted. A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. Wishing him all success – starting today,” Shashi Tharoor posted on social media.
There are just too many speculations around Gambhir’s relationship with former India captain Rohit Sharma. Their relationship is so strained that they avoided each other during certain practice sessions, according to a PTI report. Indeed, during the team’s October ODI tour to Australia, Dainik Jagran reported a total breakdown in communication between the two. Others firmly think that Gambhir and Kohli’s equation has also undergone a significant shift. The laughs and smiles have given way to very little conversation that is brief and to the point.