Gautam Gambhir, whose tenure as the new head coach of India’s national cricket team begins with the tour of Sri Lanka later this month, has addressed his past on-field confrontations with Virat Kohli. Gambhir emphasized that their relationship is “between two mature individuals” and not for public scrutiny, despite their high-profile clashes.
“Good for the TRP, but my relationship is not public,” Gambhir stated in his inaugural press conference on Monday. “What kind of relationship do I share with Virat Kohli, I think it is between two mature individuals.”
Gambhir, 41, acknowledged that while on-field conflicts are part of the game, representing India and its 140 crore citizens unites them in a common goal. “On the field, everyone has got the right to fight for their own team, for their own jersey, and want to come back in a winning dressing room,” he said.
“But, at the moment, I think you are representing India… and I am sure we are going to be on the same page and try and make India proud.”
Kohli and Gambhir’s on-field spats date back to an IPL match in 2013, when Gambhir captained Kolkata Knight Riders. The tension resurfaced in IPL 2023 during Gambhir’s mentorship with Lucknow Super Giants, culminating in a heated exchange after a match against Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, IPL 2024 saw a public display of camaraderie between the two, with Kohli mentioning, “We’re not kids anymore.”
Despite public interest, Gambhir maintained that the nature of their relationship remains private. “How many chats have I had with him… it is not important,” Gambhir said. “The most important thing right now is that we both have got to be working extremely hard to make India proud. And that is our job.”
Gambhir praised Kohli’s professionalism and athletic prowess. “He is a thorough professional, he is a world-class athlete, he is a world-class player. I have huge respect for him as a player and it is going to continue. And hopefully, we can work together really well.”
As Gambhir steps into his new role, his focus remains on steering the Indian cricket team towards success, with the aim of achieving glory for the nation on the international stage.
