India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak shut down rumours of a rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, saying that both men are on talking terms and there are no issues within their working relationship. Kotak also added that he doesn’t understand where the rumours were coming from in the first place.
IND vs ENG, 2nd ODI: Highlights | Scorecard
Ever since Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket last year, there has been considerable speculation surrounding his relationship with head coach Gambhir. More fuel was added to the fire when Kohli and Gambhir weren’t seen interacting with each other during the training sessions on the eve of the first ODI between India and England in Edgbaston.
While Kohli was practising before the series opener, Gambhir was seen observing things in close quarters, but he didn’t approach the star batter for a chat. It was Kotak who was seen speaking with Kohli.
During the post-match press conference after the second ODI in Cardiff, Kotak dismissed the noise around both men saying that they chatted atleast 10 times during the match.
“Virat and Gautam, they must have talked 10 times today. I don’t think they need a bridge,” said Kotak to the reporters.
The India batting coach also said that Kohli shouldn’t be disturbed when he is in rhythm and out in the middle.
“And Virat, basically, before going into batting, he talked about certain things. Because, Virat, I honestly say, as a batting coach, till the time he doesn’t feel anything, or if he doesn’t see anything, his batting shouldn’t be disturbed. And we shouldn’t say much, the way he bats.”
“But, mainly, how is his footwork going? Certain things, he asked me before. And then, after the nets, he was talking. Apart from that, what you are saying, I don’t know, where do the rumours come from, but they do come,” said Kotak.
‘KOHLI SENT A MESSAGE TO GAMBHIR WHILE BATTING’
Kohli scored 65 runs off 66 balls during the Cardiff ODI and looked to be in good rhythm in the middle. Apart from him, Shreyas Iyer also scored a fifty while the rest of the batting order failed to inspire and India scored just 233 runs.
Joe Root’s unbeaten 99 ensured that England won the match and levelled the series. Kotak said that while Kohli was in the middle, he kept relaying messages to Gambhir and dressing room about the playing conditions.
“Virat, if you have seen, while he was batting only, he has sent a message also to us, and he has told the head coach that the short balls are actually not going through. So that we knew,” said Kotak.
India and England will square off at Lord’s in the final ODI of the series on Sunday, July 19.
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