India’s 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa on December 6 should have concluded with unreserved praise for the key performers. Instead, the conversation quickly shifted to the post-match press conference, where head coach Gautam Gambhir barely mentioned Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma – the two batsmen who defined the series. The omission caught the attention of former India international and Gambhir’s former teammate Robin Uthappa, whose remarks have since sparked a wider debate among fans and analysts.
Kohli produced an outstanding campaign scoring 302 runs at an extraordinary average of 151 and a strike of 117.05, punctuated by two centuries. Rohit Sharma also contributed significantly, scoring 146 runs at an average of 48.66 and hitting over 110. Their efforts were crucial in sealing the series for India.
This was exactly what Uthappa felt was being overlooked.
“What surprised me is the post-match of that series, I didn’t see Gautam giving credit to either Rohit or Virat in the press conference. Here are a couple of guys who have come out of their skins and shown us how good they are and how good they can be. They have reduced all kinds of doubts and silenced all the naysayers of what they said when they are on Uthappa they are actually right and they will do it for India.” his YouTube channel.
The rejection of the press conference comes amid rumors of a rift between Gambhir and Kohli. A section of fans deduced from the TV visuals that Kohli ignored Gambhir after his hundred in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi last month. However, visuals of Gambhir casually chatting with Rohit went viral.
Gambhir, meanwhile, used the press conference to talk mostly about team issues and long-term planning, offering minimal direct credit to the senior pair. Uthappa highlighted this as an unusual oversight, especially considering the weight of Rohit and Kohli’s contributions.
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Both players remain fully committed to the ODI format even as they reduce their international workload. After retiring from Test cricket earlier this year and withdrawing from T20Is after the last World Cup, they continue to anchor India’s 50-over ambitions – fueling speculation about their roles in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Asked whether Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal – who each hit a century when they replaced Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer – could play a prominent role in India’s future ODI plans, Gambhir resisted projecting too far ahead. “First of all, you have to realize that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay present. They are world-class players and their experience is important in the dressing room. They have been doing it for a long time. Hopefully they can continue to do the same, which will be important in the 50-over format,” he said.
Rohit and Kohli’s form has since taken them to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings, with Kohli rising to No.2 following his record-breaking performance in South Africa and closing in on the number one spot he last held in March 2021.
With the home series against New Zealand looming in January 2026, the pair remain central to India’s ODI ambitions. And while Gambhir’s reluctance to single them out may have raised eyebrows, their performances continue to speak loudly enough – both for now and for what lies ahead.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
December 11, 2025
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