Amid the ongoing India-South Africa ODI series, tensions within the Indian team have come under the spotlight, centered around the strained relationship between head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Recent video footage surfaced at an airport showing Virat Kohli engaged in a serious, intense discussion with Pragyan Ojha, a relatively new member of the BCCI selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar.
This exchange has sparked further speculation about Kohli's role and future in the Indian limited-overs setup, especially with the 2027 World Cup plans underway.
Some serious discussion between Virat Kohli and selector pragyan Ojha. https://t.co/fS88MRytDG pic.twitter.com/UrNcMWpfx5
- 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) December 2, 2025
Meanwhile, another clip reveals Pragyan Ojha in conversation with Rohit Sharma, who was seated alongside Gautam Gambhir, though Kohli was notably absent from this discussion. These interactions have amplified rumors of a communication breakdown and a "borderline cold" atmosphere between the coach and the veteran duo.
Rohit Sharma meeting his best friend team India selector pragyan Ojha. Gautam Gambhir, Rohit and Ojha having fun chat at airport yesterday.❤️ pic.twitter.com/NhVRo3nUZE
- 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) December 2, 2025
Both Kohli and Rohit were excellent for India in the first ODI in Ranchi, especially Kohli, scored his 52nd ODI century for India. On the other hand, Rohit also scored a magnificent fifty on the day, with an aggressive knock on the day. But despite that, the veteran duo and their future remains an enigma.
Reports suggest that Gambhir's strict, team-first approach clashes with the players' expectations, coinciding with the team's underwhelming Test performances under his leadership, which has fueled criticism on social media and concern from the BCCI.
These off-field tensions have been further dramatized by visible instances on match days, such as Kohli reportedly avoiding a handshake with Gambhir after the first ODI and serious discussions observed between Rohit Sharma and Gambhir.
The brewing discord among India's senior cricket figures remains a topic of intense public debate, highlighting challenges in leadership dynamics within the current Indian cricket framework. This situation could have significant implications for team harmony and performance as they head deeper into the series and look ahead to future international competitions.
