Did Rohit Sharma Dig Own Grave By Inviting Gautam Gambhir To Coach Indian Team?

Rohit urged Gambhir to become India head coach [Source: AFP]

After the T20 World Cup 2024, which India successfully won, Rahul Dravid, the then head coach, stepped down from the post. Dravid had completed the mission of helping the Indian team win the coveted T20 trophy, and once he left, the hunt for a new coach began.

India’s search ended when they roped in former cricketer Gautam Gambhir to fill the void left by Dravid. In the same year (2024), Gambhir was the mentor of KKR in the IPL, and under his guidance, the team won the IPL title, and naturally, his stock went up.

It has been two years since Gambhir became the Indian all-format head coach, and it has come to light that it was Rohit Sharma who convinced his former teammate to succeed Dravid as the head coach of the side.

Rohit requested Gambhir to become India head coach

According to reports by PTI, it was Rohit’s decision to bring in Gautam Gambhir into the Indian team. Dravid was leaving the post after the T20 World Cup, and the team needed a solid replacement.

During a training session in IPL 2024 at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit had asked Gambhir to become the new head coach of the Indian team. Gambhir was interested in the job, but only if Rohit was still the team captain.

“Gauti bhai Indian team mein aa jaao’ (Gauti bhai join the Indian team), and Gambhir in return had apparently said: ‘If you remain captain, I will definitely join’,” a source close to Rohit Sharma told PTI.

The report also stated that the former India captain was warned about bringing in Gambhir, as the Delhi Cricketer had a different style of coaching, and players might find it difficult to adjust to it.

Also Read: BCCI Issues Fresh Verdict On Rohit Sharma's Future Ahead Of Lord's ODI

“You are so used to Rahul Dravid school of man management. This will be a different challenge. Are you up for it?,” the source had asked.

The first signs of rift between Rohit-Gambhir emerged after BGT loss

The pair of Rohit-Gambhir witnessed turmoil as the Indian side was blanked at home by the Kiwis in a three-match Test series, and it was followed by a drubbing at the hands of Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The back-to-back series losses were the first signs of a rift between the two Indian legends, as Gambhir instructed all the players to go and play domestic cricket in order to get selected in the Test team.

Rohit reportedly wanted to play in all five Tests against England, but his place in the Test team was questioned on a repeated basis as the former player announced his sudden Test retirement in May 2025.

Rohit reportedly not in India's plans for 2027 World Cup

In the latest report, Rohit Sharma is not in the scheme of things for the 2027 World Cup as the Gautam Gambhir-led management have decided to move on from him.

The management wants to try out Yashasvi Jaiswal as their new opener alongside Shubman Gil, and they have decided to drop Rohit Sharma from the ODIs, irrespective of his performance in the third ODI against England.

These are just reports, but Gambhir has been heavily criticised for not backing the legendary player right before the 2027 World Cup that takes place in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Also Read: 3 Times Rohit Sharma Saved Himself From Getting Dropped From Indian Team