As India Get ready for the decisive 3rd ODI against EnglandA fresh wave of speculation has surrounded the senior batsman on social media Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Clips from India’s training session at Edgbaston went viral after broadcast cameras showed the two cricket celebrities working closely without any visual interaction. The footage immediately sparked claims online that Kohli and Gambhir were not on speaking terms to each other during the ongoing series.
The rumors gained momentum due to the two’s well-documented history. Kohli and Gambhir have been involved in two high-profile controversies on the field at different times Indian Premier League (IPL) season, events that often play out whenever the two are seen together. Despite there being no official indication of any disagreement within the Indian camp, many fans interpreted the training scenes as evidence of long-standing tensions. India’s batting coach is talking about this Sitanshu Kotak Now he has addressed the speculations and shared his opinion on the viral social media claims.
India’s batting coach opens up on rumors of rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir
Speaking to reporters ahead of the series decider, Kotak dismissed suggestions that Kohli and Gambhir were avoiding each other during training. According to the batting coach, there were several conversations between the two throughout the day, making the online claims baseless.
“Virat and Gautam, they must have talked 10 times today. I don’t think they need any bridge. I don’t know where the rumors come from, but they do.” Kotak said.
He also spoke about his approach while working with Kohli and revealed that the experienced batsman prefers minimal intervention unless he specifically asks for technical inputs.
“Virat, basically, before he went to bat, he talked about a few things. Because Virat, I say honestly, as a batting coach, unless he feels anything, or if he doesn’t see anything, there shouldn’t be any disturbance in his batting. And the way he bats, we shouldn’t say much.” Kotak added.
Kotak’s comments are expected to put an end to the speculations, reinforcing the fact that the dressing room is united despite the stories doing the rounds on social media. Ever since Gambhir took over as India’s head coach, there has been a lot of public interest in his equation with Kohli due to previous IPL clashes. However, members of the team management have consistently said that both are fully committed to India’s success.
Also read: Fans go wild as Joe Root’s unbeaten masterclass helps England beat India in 2nd ODI
Joe Root’s masterclass overshadows Kohli’s half-century in England series
The controversy comes after India lost by four wickets in the second ODI in Cardiff, where England made a strong comeback to level the three-match series 1-1.
England won the toss and decided to bowl first and soon put pressure on India. The visitors were never able to find a sustained rhythm and were eventually bowled out for 233 runs in 44 overs. Kohli looked in good form and scored 65 runs in 66 balls. Shreyas Iyer Despite the pair rebuilding the innings after the early setbacks, India’s middle-order failed to take advantage of it, leading to another collapse, keeping the total below par.
England was always chased by reliable Joe RootWho scored an unbeaten 99 runs with remarkable composure to lead the host team to victory. Root carried the innings forward completely, ensuring that England crossed the finish line with 35 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.
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