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Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are reportedly not considering Rohit Sharma for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Therefore, the opener could consider retirement from the India National Cricket Team.
Rohit could announce his retirement after the India vs England 3rd ODI match on Sunday at Lord’s, London, as multiple sources have claimed. It is reported that Rohit’s relationship with Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar is not on a sweet note. Thus, the experienced opener may have to think about walking away from the team.
What is the main reason for a possible rift between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir?
If the reports are to be believed, which raise questions over the relationship, why did it deteriorate all of a sudden? A latest PTI report shed some light on the unique situation.
According to the latest claims on Friday, it was Rohit first who requested Gautam Gambhir in person to join the Indian cricket team as the head coach. By then, Rahul Dravid was about to end his journey with the national side, so the team was searching for a candidate who could become the next head coach of the team.
Gautam Gambhir, as a mentor, did well with the Kolkata Knight Riders, helping them to win the IPL 2024 trophy. In the same season, when Kolkata Knight Riders were at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, for an Indian Premier League match, Rohit Sharma approached Gautam Gambhir to become the Men in Blue’s head coach.
Rohit Sharma asked Gautam Gambhir to become India's coach
As it is mentioned in the report, Rohit went up to Gambhir during an evening training session and said to the former India opener, who was then associated with the Kolkata-based franchise as mentor, “Gauti bhai, Indian team mein aa jaao (Gauti bhai, join the Indian team).” In reply, Gambhir stated, “If you remain captain, I will definitely join.”
However, Rohit was warned by one of his close ones about Gambhir’s coaching method, which was completely different to Rahul Dravid’s approach. Rohit was used to working with Dravid, but with Gambhir, the journey had not been so smooth.
The relationship between Gautam Gambhir and Rohit started to go down after India's 0-3 drubbing by New Zealand at home. Things started to decrease more between the head coach and the batter when India toured Australia in 2024-25.
Rohit Sharma's 'I am a father of two' comment did not go well for Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar
In the report, the news agency claimed that due to being off form, Rohit Sharma wanted to exclude himself from the playing eleven at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the chief selector did not approve Rohit’s plan as he wanted him to play the match. Additionally, Agarkar reportedly issued a warning to Rohit Sharma to drop him from the next series in England if he did not play the match in Sydney.
During the days leading up to the Tests, Rohit Sharma made a surprising comment, which left both Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir stunned. “I am a father of two. I know what is good for me,” the batter told the reporters.
It is believed Rohit’s ‘father of two’ comment was the breaking point in his relationship with the coach and the chief selector.
