Kohli left out of loop in Gambhir's appointment as India head coach

After the appointment of former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir as head coach of the Indian team, replacing Rahul Dravid, discussions have emerged about the dynamics of this new setup. The decision was initially endorsed by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee, which includes Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik.

It's important to note that the discussions are not about Gambhir's skills or strategies. Gambhir was a key player in India's ICC finals victories in 2007 and 2011 and has a successful track record as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, leading them to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. He also played a vital mentoring role in the franchise's 2024 title win.

The main concern is the competitive relationship between star batter Virat Kohli and Gambhir. Both are known for their intense and passionate nature. Their rivalry first became public during an IPL 2013 match, where a heated incident required intervention from umpires and players. Another notable clash occurred in Lucknow during the 2023 IPL, marked by intense exchanges and a heated post-match confrontation.

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, Kohli was not consulted by the BCCI before Gambhir's appointment was announced.

"There is enough time for the two to have conversations over the table. But it was important for the BCCI to look at the big picture with many youngsters likely to feature in the coming years," a BCCI official told the Hindustan Times.

The report also mentioned that all-rounder Hardik Pandya, a frontrunner for India's next T20I captain, was informed by the BCCI about Gambhir's appointment.

It will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma and Gambhir work together, especially since Sharma had publicly preferred Rahul Dravid to remain as head coach. Reports suggest that both Sharma and Kohli have requested extended leaves from the BCCI, which could result in their absence during Gambhir's first series as head coach against Sri Lanka.

India will play three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting July 28.