A rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir? The Indian coach gives a straight ‘no bridge needed’ answer to the speculations.

Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak dismissed speculation of a rift between Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying they are in regular communication and there is no problem in their working relationship.Rumors of Kohli and Gambhir’s equation gained momentum on social media after visuals from India’s training sessions during the ODI series against England showed the two not interacting. Speculation has continued ever since Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket last year.Ahead of the first ODI at Edgbaston, Kohli was seen batting in the nets while Gambhir watched him from close range without speaking to him. Meanwhile, Kotak was spotted chatting with the former Indian captain, adding to the online discussion.However, Kotak made it clear that there was nothing unusual about the situation and laughed off suggestions that someone had to act as a bridge between the two.“No (laughs), Virat and Gautam would have spoken to each other about ten times today. I don’t think it would need a bridge,” Kotak said.He also explained what he and Kohli discussed during the training session ahead of the opening ODI.“Basically, before he went to bat, he talked to me about a few things. Honestly, as a batting coach, if he doesn’t feel something or notice something major, his batting shouldn’t be disturbed and he shouldn’t be called too much. But before that, he asked me certain things about his footwork and in the nets, he talked (to me).“Besides, I don’t know where the rumors are coming from, but they are,” Kotak said.Kotak also backed Rohit Sharma, who has struggled for runs in the ongoing ODI series against England.Rohit’s woes continued in the second ODI in Cardiff on Thursday, where England won by four wickets to level the three-match series 1-1. The opener managed just 10 runs off 18 balls in the Powerplay despite India reaching 61/1 before he was dismissed for 26 off 47 balls in an attempted smash against Will Jacks.Rohit has not enjoyed the best run in ODIs this year. He scored just one half-century in eight matches and averaged 30.12. With speculation over whether the selectors could move on from the former India captain ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kotak was asked if Rohit’s place would come under scrutiny after Sunday’s series decider at Lord’s.The batsman said there was no pressure on the veteran opener.“I don’t think a big player like Rohit feels the pressure,” Kotak said after the match in Cardiff.“He’s too good a player to feel that. Yes, he hasn’t scored in two games. I don’t think it’s a difference. But today he also looked like he was going to have a good innings, but that’s OK (that he didn’t get a big score).”

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