‘No problem at all’: Virat Kohli talks rumours, opens up on friendship with Shubman Gill

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill Virat Kohli dismissed rumors doing the rounds on social media about unrest in the Indian dressing room, insisting that the atmosphere under skipper Shubman Gill remains “warm and healthy”.Kohli made the comments after producing a match-winning 139 not out in India’s emphatic eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. The veteran batsman hit his 55th ODI century while Gill also reached three figures and scored 110 as India easily chased down West Indies’ 296-run target.The second-wicket pair put on 151 runs after Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 32, registering their fifth century partnership in ODIs. However, their association was not only about running. The two were seen sharing some hilarious moments during their time in the crease, with the banter and laughter continuing into the closing stages of the match.For Kohli, that on-field camaraderie reflects the mood in the Indian camp as the team builds for next year’s World Cup in South Africa. He said having senior players and leaders who are relaxed and having fun helps the rest of the team feel comfortable as well.“I’ve known him since he came into the team. I’ve always shared a very loose and fun camaraderie with him. At the end of the day, you make a conscious effort. Now he’s in a leadership position; I’ve been in that position for a long time. I’m a senior player now, so when there are senior players or leaders in the team, everyone’s laughing, no problem at all,” Kohli said in a video released by the BCCI.Kohli explained that maintaining a relaxed environment is especially important when the pressure is on. According to him, players can enjoy themselves away from the action while remaining fully focused once they enter the field.“Even though it’s a high-pressure scenario, everyone’s laughing and having fun. It just relaxes all the other guys because we’re not pushing. We’re showing that we can smile and have a good laugh, but also be professional on the field. We hardly even talk about the game itself. Because he knows what to do and I know what to do.”The win also added another milestone in Kohli’s already record-breaking ODI career. His unbeaten 139 took him to 55 centuries in the format and helped him become the fastest batsman to reach 15,000 ODI runs since Sachin Tendulkar.Kohli reached the milestone in 303 innings while it took Tendulkar 377 innings to get there.Despite the latest statistical milestone, Kohli said his approach has always been focused on helping India win rather than chasing individual numbers. He believes that longevity at the highest level is possible only when personal achievements remain secondary to the team’s goal.“You can play for so long only if you want the team to win. You can’t play for numbers for so long. Because you need to get numbers, you end up compromising the main objective. And that way you can’t play for long. I’m lucky to be in this position for so long and of course to tick off a big number on the way to another win is really special,” added Kohli.