Gautam Gambhir Speaks Out On Alleged Rift With Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma: 'Pitted Against My Own'

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the rumoured rift with batting bigwigs Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stating he's "amused at being pitted against my own" amid recent allegations that he's trying to influence team selections, favouring certain players over others.

The claims were made by fans and cricket pundits, pointing out that Gambhir is using his authority over the Indian team to push his preferred players into the team, potentially depriving deserving players of a fair chance.

Additionally, social media is abuzz with rumours of Gambhir trying to oust Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the Indian team, and what added fuel to the fire was the surprise Test retirements of batting giants last year.

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On Wednesday, right after India's emphatic 48-run victory over New Zealand in the Nagpur T20I, Gambhir took to social media, reacting to a tweet praising him, while citing a post by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.

In his tweet, Tharoor highlighted that India's head coach role is the "second-toughest job in India" after the Prime Minister, and this received a characteristically forthright response from Gambhir.

“In Nagpur, enjoyed a good & frank discussion with my old friend Gautam Gambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s! He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm and walks on undaunted. A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. Wishing him all success,” Tharoor wrote in a post ahead of the opening T20I of the series.

Reacting to the tweet late on Thursday night, Gambhir said he does not have “unlimited authority” over the Indian, citing that the truth will come out when the dust settles.

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“When the dust settles, truth and logic about a coach’s supposedly ‘unlimited authority’ will become clear. Till then I’m amused at being pitted against my own who are the very best!” Gambhir wrote on his X account.

Gambhir defended his tenure after India's 0-2 Test series defeat to South Africa at home last year, reminding attackers of his contributions to the team's Champions Trophy and Asia Cup wins under his stewardship as head coach.