Rohit Sharma breaks silence on relationship with Gautam Gambhir amid rift speculations

There has been speculation regarding the professional dynamic between Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

New Delhi: Following the India tour of Australia, various media outlets suggested that all was not well within the Indian dressing room, reporting a lack of unity among the players. These rumors sparked widespread discussion, leading the BCCI to introduce a 10-point directive aimed at instilling discipline in the team. In light of this, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, addressed speculation regarding his rapport with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rohit clarified that while there had been ongoing rumors about their professional relationship, once on the field, he operates independently.

“Both (he and Gambhir) of us are very clear in what we want to do. I’m not going to sit here and discuss what goes behind every game tactically but it’s very clear in my mind. Gautam Gambhir is somebody once we enter the field he trusts what the captain is doing on the field. The basic talks that happen are only off the field, in the ground or maybe the changing room,” said Rohit in the press conference during Team India’s squad announcement for England ODIs and Champions Trophy.

“But once we take the field it’s all about what I do on the field. That’s the kind of trust we have in each other and that’s how it should be. That’s about it,” he added.

India revealed their 15-member lineup for the 2025 Champions Trophy on Saturday. The tournament, featuring eight teams, will commence on February 19 in Pakistan, with the Indian squad, led by Rohit Sharma, set to play all their matches in Dubai after opting not to travel to Pakistan.

India’s preference for spin and concerns over Mohammed Siraj’s performance with the older ball resulted in his omission from the squad.

Under the guidance of chief selector Ajit Agarkar, the Indian selectors awarded a first-ever ODI call-up to rising star Yashasvi Jaiswal but decided to leave out the experienced pacer Siraj due to doubts about his ability with the old ball.

Given the expected conditions in Dubai, which are likely to offer limited assistance to fast bowlers, similar to the Caribbean leg of last year’s T20 World Cup, India decided to continue with their four-spinner strategy. The squad will feature Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.