Virat Kohli Walks Past Gautam Gambhir After Nets In Raipur As Rohit Sharma Stops To Talk
Virat Kohli Walks Past Gautam Gambhir After Nets Session, Rohit Sharma Then Steps In
Tension around the Virat Kohli–Gautam Gambhir equation resurfaced on the eve of the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, as a training-ground moment again sparked speculation about their relationship. In contrast, Rohit Sharma was seen briefly engaging with the head coach after his own nets session, underlining just how closely every move between the senior trio is now being watched.
Nets Session In Raipur: Kohli Walks Past, Rohit Stops
With India 1-0 up in the three-match series, Kohli and Rohit went through a long, high-intensity batting stint under lights, facing throwdown specialists Raghu and Nuwan Seneviratne as Gautam Gambhir watched their work closely from the nets area. The focus was firmly on tempo and range-hitting, with both seniors treating it like a match-scenario workout rather than a light hit.
According to a PTI report, once Kohli wrapped up, he slung both bats onto his shoulders and walked straight past Gambhir without saying a word, heading directly towards the dressing room. The moment, innocuous on its own, instantly fed into the ongoing chatter that the two are not on speaking terms, especially after several recent visuals from the Australia and South Africa series have shown minimal visible interaction.
Shortly afterwards, Rohit finished his drills and followed the same path but chose a different approach: he paused near Gambhir and had a quick chat before moving on. The exchange looked short and businesslike rather than animated, but in a camp under scrutiny, even a brief conversation stood out as a notable contrast to Kohli’s silent walk.
Selector Pragyan Ojha Sent To “Cool Things Down”
The situation has become significant enough for the BCCI to quietly step in. Former India spinner and current selector Pragyan Ojha was reportedly sent to Raipur specifically to act as a mediator and take stock of the dressing-room mood. His presence at training, alongside Gambhir, added another formal layer to what is effectively a man-management and communication issue at the top of the ODI setup.
Reports suggest the atmosphere between Gambhir and the two seniors has been “cold” since their unexpected Test retirements and the backlash that followed India’s red-ball slump. While neither side has publicly said anything inflammatory, the lack of visible warmth has fuelled the sense that all is not well behind the scenes. The hope internally was that Kohli confirming participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy might thaw relations; instead, Raipur has underlined that more proactive bridge-building is needed.
Seniors Lock Back In On ODI Job
Amid the noise, Kohli and Rohit have shown little sign of letting off on the cricket front. Both have been central to India’s last two ODI wins—against Australia and in the Ranchi opener versus South Africa—reminding everyone that, at 36 and 38, they are still the batting pillars of this ODI cycle.
In Raipur nets, Kohli looked in prime rhythm, going hard at high pace from both right-arm and left-arm angles, middling the majority of deliveries and only occasionally beaten by sheer speed. Rohit, too, mixed timing and power, working on his range against spin and pace to keep his aggressive template sharp for a venue expected to offer another high-scoring contest on black soil.
Around them, the rest of the batting group followed the same intent-heavy script. Yashasvi Jaiswal peppered the leg-side stands with clean hits, then turned his arm over to bowl to Rishabh Pant, who was the last batter in. The overall mood in the nets suggested a camp determined to ride the current form wave and close out the series 2-0, even if off-field narratives continue to swirl.