"Don't start this nonsense” - When Gautam Gambhir vehemently opposed Virat Kohli opening in T20Is
Ex-Indian opener and current national team coach Gautam Gambhir has always been quite vocal and firm in his opinions. One such incident occurred in 2022, when the former southpaw strongly opposed Kohli opening the innings in T20 internationals.
The retired cricketer gave out his opinion after the Asia Cup in 2022 when the right-handed batter scored his maiden T20I hundred while opening the innings. With the T20I series against Australia at home looming and the World Cup also fast approaching, a possibility of Kohli opening the innings floated.
Nevertheless, Gambhir, while speaking to Star Sports, shut down the idea neck and crop and suggested that Kohli should be a floater in the top order:
"Don't start this nonsense about him (Kohli) opening the batting. He can't open the batting with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma (available). I even said this on air that there shouldn't even be a debate about this. I will always be flexible about No. 3. If the openers bat out 10 overs, then I will have Suryakumar Yadav at No.3. If an early wicket falls then Kohli."
However, Kohli's decisive 59-ball 76 came in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa when opening the innings. It proved to be vital as India won the game by a narrow margin of seven runs. The 36-year-old also retired from T20Is after that game.
"Have got no concerns" - Gautam Gambhir strongly backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of Australia tour
With Kohli and Rohit Sharma enduring a disappointing home series against New Zealand rounding off a 3-0 defeat, the 43-year-old strongly backed the veteran duo. Speaking at a presser, Gambhir revealed that both are still hungry and working incredibly hard and said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"Not at all. I have got no concerns whatever over Virat and Rohit. I think they are incredibly tough men. They've achieved a lot for Indian cricket, and they will continue to achieve a lot in future as well."
"I think for me at the most important thing is that they still working really hard, they are still passionate, they still want to achieve a lot more and that is something which is very important."
Gambhir also hugged Kohli after the latter scored a drought-breaking ton in Perth.