Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are reportedly not considering Rohit Sharma for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Therefore, the opening batsman may consider retiring from the India national cricket team.
Rohit may announce his retirement after India vs England 3third ODI at Lord’s, London on Sunday, as claimed by multiple sources. It is reported that Rohit’s relations with Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar are not cordial. In such a situation, the experienced opener may have to think about leaving the team.
What is the main reason for the possible rift between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir?
If we believe the reports questioning the relationship, then why did this relationship suddenly deteriorate? A latest report by PTI has shed some light on the unique situation.
According to the latest claims on Friday, it was Rohit who personally requested Gautam Gambhir to join the Indian cricket team as the head coach. By then, Rahul Dravid was about to end his journey with the national team, so the team was looking for a candidate who could become the next head coach of the team.
Gautam Gambhir, as a mentor, performed well with Kolkata Knight Riders, helping them win the IPL 2024 trophy. In the same season, when Kolkata Knight Riders were at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for an Indian Premier League match, Rohit Sharma approached Gautam Gambhir to become the head coach of the Men in Blue.
Rohit Sharma asked Gautam Gambhir to become India’s coach
As reported, Rohit walked up to Gambhir during an evening training session and told the former India opener, who was then associated with the Kolkata-based franchise as a mentor, “Gauthi Bhai, Indian team mein aa jao (Gauthi Bhai, join the Indian team).” In response, Gambhir said, ‘If you remain the captain, I will definitely join.’
However, Rohit was warned by someone close to him about Gambhir’s coaching methodology, which was completely different from Rahul Dravid’s approach. Rohit was used to working with Dravid, but the journey with Gambhir was not so easy.
Relations between Gautam Gambhir and Rohit started deteriorating after India’s 0-3 defeat to New Zealand on home soil. Things started going downhill between the head coach and the batsman when India toured Australia in 2024-25.
In the report, the news agency has claimed that due to being off form, Rohit Sharma wanted to exclude himself from the playing eleven at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the chief selector did not approve of Rohit’s plan because he wanted him to play the match. Additionally, Agarkar had reportedly issued a warning to Rohit Sharma that he would be dropped from the next series in England if he did not play the match in Sydney.
In the days leading up to the Test, Rohit Sharma made a surprising comment that left both Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir shocked. “I am a father of two children. I know what is good for me,” the batsman told reporters.
It is believed that Rohit’s ‘father of two’ comment caused a rift in his relations with the coach and the chief selector.
