Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has hinted that he may not have handled some aspects of his relationship with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the best way during his tenure. Kohli and Rohit retired from Test cricket during the first season of Gambhir’s tenure after India’s disastrous campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Speaking at the RevSportz conclave in Kolkata, Gambhir was asked about reports and media discussions about his relationship with the two senior players. In recent months there have been suggestions that the equation between the two has become difficult.
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Gambhir did not directly comment on the issue but said that he may have made mistakes. He also said that making mistakes is part of being human and that his decisions were made with the right intention.During his tenure with the Indian team, Gambhir has often been in the news since taking charge in July 2024. His tenure included criticism of India’s performance in Test cricket and reports of differences with Kohli and Rohit. At the same time, under his leadership, India won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026. The team also won the Asia Cup last year.At the event, Gambhir was also asked about a post in which he suggested that some people were trying to create differences between him and the players. The question was about speculation about his relationship with Kohli and Rohit, including claims that he wanted them out.Answering a question, Gambhir said mistakes are part of the job.“I’m human. I should be allowed to make mistakes. Just like anyone else, a player should be allowed to make mistakes. I’ve had to make mistakes in the last 18 months. I don’t avoid it, but I’ve always believed in one thing. A wrong decision with the right intention is acceptable, but a wrong decision with the wrong intention is not in that dressing room,” he said.Discussions about Gambhir’s relationship with Kohli and Rohit have increased after both the players announced their retirement from Test cricket. Both Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have faced criticism from some sections, although it has not been confirmed that the players have been forced out of the format.Gambhir said his focus is on doing his job honestly and maintaining clear communication with the players.“As long as I do everything honestly, as long as I’m honest with everyone in that locker room, I can look them in the eye and talk to them, I think I’m doing an honest job in my position. I can live with that. I don’t need to explain anything and everything that appears on social media,” the head coach added.
