"Gautam Gambhir Is Making A Lot Of Enemies"- Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Told To Co-Operate

Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Gautam Gambhir's tussle with the passionate Indian fans over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has been a major talking point since he replaced Rahul Dravid as the head coach. 

India is a cricket-crazy nation where cricketers enjoy the status of Demigods. It was treated just like another sport until 1983, when the Kapil Dev-led Indian team broke the mighty West Indies' World Cup-winning streak by defeating them in the final. 

While the 1983 World Cup triumph elevated the stature of cricket in India, the emergence of Sachin Tendulkar took the popularity of the sport to a whole new level. 

Tendulkar carried the legacy of Sunil Gavaskar, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma joined the legendary list of generational greats following the Master Blaster's retirement. 

The rise of poster-boys from time to time helped cricket grow leaps and bounds, keeping fans connected to the sport through their personal favourites. 

However, since Gautam Gambhir has taken over as the Indian head coach, a dramatic cultural shift has taken the centre stage. 

Gambhir's much-talked-about 'team over individual' logic doesn't sit well with a majority of the Indian cricket fanatics, who didn't take too long to criticise him after the India head coach halted Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Test ambitions. 

Managing the big boys: Toughest job for India head coach decoded

The BCCI appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team after Rahul Dravid stepped down from the position. 

The former opener's coaching stint collided with India's transition phase, which phased out the talismanic Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. 

Considering India has been a hub of talented cricketers over the years, scouting has never been an issue for the Indian team management. 

Also Read: Abhishek Sharma Breaks Rohit Sharma's Unwanted Feat In T20s

However, every head coach have battled with the 'problem of plenty', having been tasked to manage multiple superstars in the dressing room. 

Gautam Gambhir's case is no different, as he was asked to deal with superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have a cult fan following across the country. 

Munaf Patel believes Gautam Gambhir is the right man to coach Indian team

Given their stature, having blunt conversations with the big boys was always going to be a daunting task, which required a straightforward man like Gambhir to execute smoothly. 

Therefore, although the Indian cricket fans have turned into Gambhir's enemies, former fast bowler Munaf Patel believes taking him out would further make the dressing room chaotic. 

“Just remember this, if a head coach like Gautam Gambhir is removed, then handling the players will become very difficult. He is a genuine person; he calls the truth as it is, and many people don’t like that. Everyone knows that if things go off track, he has the courage to drop that player," Munaf Patel told TOI. 

“Man-management is the most important thing. And it is not easy. Try saying no to someone like Virat Kohli. Try saying no to Rohit Sharma. Tell me, how many people is Gautam Gambhir making enemies of just to coach the country?," the 2011 World Cup winner added. 

Gautam Gambhir and bold decision-making go hand in hand

As Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's runs dried up, the Gautam Gambhir-led management felt that time was up for the talismanic cricketers to step aside from the format. 

Additionally, the veteran batters have clearly been told to keep proving themselves in ODIs, with the management emphasising a merit-based selection for the 2027 World Cup. 

He has prioritised team effort over individual brilliance, unlike his predecessors, setting a new benchmark for the future administrators of Indian cricket. 

While his no-nonsense approach and bold decision-making have paid rich dividends in white-ball cricket, resulting in India's two ICC title wins, Gambhir would be keen to deliver the goods as the Test coach before signing off. 

Also Read: Virat Kohli Stopped In The Middle By BCCI Officials As He Complains About Umpiring