Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia shed light on the relationship between India’s star batsman Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Over the past few months, several reports have claimed that Gambhir and Kohli do not share a cordial relationship, with suggestions that the team management would be keen to replace the senior batsman with a younger player, keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.
However, Devajit Saikia brushed aside all fears regarding the indifference between two influential figureswith the duo having a harmonious relationship with each other.
“I have never seen them fight. They have a very good, cordial relationship because I am with them when they represent the country,” Saikia said on the India Today podcast.
In recent months, the Indian team management seemed determined to usher in a transitional phase in the ODI set-up, appointing Shubman Gill as the team’s new captain and replacing Rohit Sharma ahead of the Australian tour. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar also said during the press conference that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were non-committal about featuring in the next ODI World Cup.
In an exclusive interview, Kaushik Deka, Editor-in-Chief of India Today Magazine, talks to Devajit Lon Saikia, BCCI Secretary, about cricket, leadership and the forces shaping the game today.
From the India-Pakistan cricket dynamic and the return of the Asia Cup trophy pic.twitter.com/sS3v9Z3Dne— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 7, 2026
Despite the speculation, the veteran duo have shown their willingness to evolve and improve their game by recently featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. These outings proved to be very beneficial as both the batsmen were seen in rich form during the following ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand.
How has Kohli fared in recent months?
Saikia also addressed the rumors surrounding the BCCI and the team management allegedly trying to push Virat Kohli out of the national set-up. The BCCI secretary argued that no authority could force a player of Kohli’s stature to take decisions about his career.
“No one can force a player of Virat Kohli’s caliber to change or accept a decision,” he added.
Kohli has been in great form in the last few monthshe scored 616 runs in his last seven ODI innings. He boasts a phenomenal average of 123.2 and an impressive strike rate of 108.64 with three centuries and as many fifties. The former India captain will next be seen in action on India’s tour of England for the ODI series in July 2026.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 8, 2026