{"id":"f-73cd9b4b27-3d2d2a4c-b05f-5701-8cb3-4be724946843","title":"Did Gautam Gambhir force Virat Kohli to retire from Tests? BCCI secretary breaks silence","description":"BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently responded to rumours that head coach Gautam Gambhir played a role in forcing Virat Kohli to retire from Test cricket.","timestamp":1770611400,"category":"sports","headline":"Did Gautam Gambhir force Virat Kohli to retire from Tests? BCCI secretary breaks silence","modifiedHeadline":"Kohli–Gambhir rift? Shocking reports emerge!","subCategories":["scid_185ed133"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"6ff0e53c-03a9-4fac-a199-00040694f01a","bundleTitle":"Indian Cricket","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"491","fcSummary":"BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that Virat Kohli was not forced to retire from Test cricket and that a player of his stature, a legend, makes such decisions himself, with the board not interfering. He also stated that he has never seen any conflict between Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, describing their relationship as cordial, and mentioned he did not witness their IPL altercation.","summary":"BCCI secretary denies Gautam Gambhir forced Virat Kohli's Test retirement.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/astrology/IN/en/news9/f-73cd9b4b27-3d2d2a4c-b05f-5701-8cb3-4be724946843","sourceUrl":"https://www.news9live.com/sports/cricket-news/did-gautam-gambhir-force-virat-kohli-to-retire-from-tests-bcci-secretary-breaks-silence-2928091","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/_sIjIEh6gk90.webp","content":"

New Delhi: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia recently broke his silence on the rumours surrounding the relationship

\n\n

between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and star batter Virat Kohli. Rumours surfaced last year that Kohli was forced out when he decided to retire from Test cricket ahead of India’s tour of England.

Rohit Sharma too hung up his boots from the longest format ahead of the England tour and was later replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s Test captain. Rohit and Kohli quit Test cricket inside a week, sparking speculation that the duo were told their services were not needed anymore in the whites.

\n\n

When asked if Kohli was forced to retire from Test cricket by Gambhir and the Indian team management, Saikia clarified that a player of his stature cannot be forced to make a decision. Calling Kohli a legend of Indian cricket, the BCCI secretary said the Indian board never interferes in a player’s career.

\n\n

“Nobody can force a player of the stature of Virat Kohli to change and make a decision. He is at that level. He is not an ordinary player; he is a legend in Indian cricket. Nobody can force him to make a decision unless he chooses to. The board will not interfere in any player’s career,” Saikia said on the India Today Podcast.

I have never seen them fighting: Saikia on Kohli and Gambhir

After his retirement from Tests, Rohit was also replaced by Gill as India’s ODI captain, with the selectors and the think tank making it clear that the decision was made keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind. There were questions over the future of both Kohli and Rohit, who were reduced to playing only a single format in international cricket.

\n\n

However, the duo shut their critics in style with a strong comeback and have been performing well consistently to shut the noise surrounding their spots in the ODI team. However, despite their strong show, rumours regarding Gambhir’s deteriorating relationship with Gambhir and Kohli have often surfaced on social media.

“I have never seen them fighting. They are in a very good cordial relationship,” said Saikia.

When asked about the infamous fight between Kohli and Gambhir during IPL 2023, Saikia said he didn’t see the match. Kohli and Gambhir had clashed during a match between Lucknow Super Giants and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

\n\n

“I haven’t seen it. IPL? Maybe I didn’t see that match because I was with them when they were representing the country… Watching every match is not possible,” said Saikia.

","readDurationInMinutes":"4","author":{"name":"News9","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/png/0e26af53-6a49-4ee1-a63d-25161b714ad5.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[{"measurementId":"G-EQBYL0ZYL8","type":"GA"},{"measurementId":"33425927","type":"COMSCORE","partnerName":"glance"}],"pointerSummary":["BCCI secretary clarifies Kohli's Test retirement. Kohli is a legend, not forced to decide. Saikia saw no fight between Kohli & Gambhir."],"tags":["BCCI","DevajitSaikia","ViratKohli","GautamGambhir","TestCricket","CricketRumors","IndianCricket","PlayerRetirement","RohitSharma","ShubmanGill","IPL2023","IndiaTodayPodcast","CricketControversy"],"redirectionEnabled":false,"consent":true}

Did Gautam Gambhir force Virat Kohli to retire from Tests? BCCI secretary breaks silence

SUMMARY