Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Saikia, has shared his insights on the ongoing rumors surrounding the relationship between head coach Gautam Gambhir and the two oldest cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The two cricketers will now play only one format, the ODI, after retiring from Test and T20Is.
Devajit Saikia sheds light on Gambhir and Virat-Rohit feud
There were rumors that Gambhir was behind the retirement of Kohli and Rohit last year. While fans and former cricketers questioned the timing and whether the duo was told that they were no longer needed in the traditional format of the game. Rohit Sharma was replaced as ODI captain after winning the ICC Champions Trophy. This came as a shocking decision to many.
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Gambhir and the selectors made it clear that there will be no ‘superstar culture’, with even India’s biggest names having to play domestic cricket to be selected in the team.
However, Devajit Saikia categorically denied all the claims. While speaking on the India Today Podcast, he said, “I have never seen them fight. They have a very good, cordial relationship.”
He was also asked about the infamous fight between the two in the IPL 2023 edition. Devajit Saikia stated, “I didn’t watch it. IPL? Maybe I didn’t watch that match because I was with them when they represented the country. So IPL, watching every match is not possible.”
After being asked if Gautam Gambhir wants Kohli out of the team, Saikia gave a befitting reply and said, “That perception may be there, but Virat Kohli is always in the team. Gautam Gambhir is also there. We are seeing the results. Did you see that Virat Kohli was not part of the team?”
Saikia also spoke about whether Virat Kohli’s Test retirement was also affected. He replied, “No one can force a player of Virat Kohli’s stature to change and take a decision. He is at that level. He is not an ordinary player; he is a legend in Indian cricket. No one can force him to take a decision unless he wants to. The board will not interfere in a player’s career,” Saikia said.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are stalwarts of Indian cricket
Saikia, after being asked about the rumors that Gambhir did not want Kohli and Rohit in the ODI set-up, said: “Many people also write rubbish. We cannot comment on rubbish. We do not see such things. These things have never come up in meetings.”
Kohli had a sensational home tour against South Africa and New Zealand. In the series against the Proteas he scored 302 points, winning the Player of the Series, and against the Kiwis he also scored 240 points. Rohit Sharma was excellent in Australia, scoring a fifty and a hundred in the series.
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