"Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can play for India till.."- Gautam Gambhir's stone-cold verdict on Workload Management

Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir is all set to start his stint. The upcoming T20I and ODI series against India will be his first assignment as India's head coach. He replaced Rahul Dravid with his post who ended his career with a T20 World Cup win for India.

Before leaving for Sri Lanka, he addressed a press conference on Monday, July 22 answering a few burning questions. One of them asked him about the workload of Jasprit Bumrah. He said that Bumrah's workload needs to be managed as he plays all formats.

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir drops bombshell verdict on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future in team India

Gautam Gambhir on Workload Management of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

"Workload management for someone like Bumrah is important. If you are a batter who is in good form, might as well play all games. Workload management not just for Bumrah, for most fast bowlers it is very very important" said Gambhir.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20I cricket after the T20 World Cup. However, both remain very central to India's ODI World Cup team and are key players heading into the Champions Trophy 2025. Gambhir in his presser also made it clear that if they maintain their fitness standards they can also play the 2027 ODI World Cup as no one can question their potential as players.

On Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's workload management, he said, "They have shown what they can deliver on the big stage. Both have a lot of cricket left in them. The Champions Trophy, if they keep their fitness then even the 2027 World Cup. Looking at what they can deliver, they are still world-class and any team would want to have both of them.”

Rohit and Kohli are the two most senior players in this team. Gautam Gambhir having played alongside both of them wanted the duo to play the ODI series and the two of them obliged. While Rohit's relationship with Gambhir is very jovial, Kohli said that he is also willing to put back his past and work together with Gambhir for the interest of the team.

In the recent press conference, he once again clarified his relationship with Virat Kohli saying that his relationship with Kohli is not based on TRP and not based on what the public thinks.

"What kind of a relationship with Virat Kohli is not for TRP. At the moment, we are representing India, we are representing 140 crore Indians. We have an excellent relationship with him off the field. But, it's not for the public. It's not important how many chats I've had with him during or after the game. He is a thorough professional, a world-class athlete, and hopefully he will continue that way" Gambhir said.

India plays three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka from July 26-August 7. The T20Is will be played in Pallekele followed by the ODIs in Colombo. Rohit will continue to remain the ODI captain of the side under Gautam Gambhir as well. He will lead the side in Sri Lanka with Shubman Gill named the vice captain of the side. Suryakumar Yadav was named the new T20I skipper of the side.

Also Read: Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir issue official verdict on Ravindra Jadeja's future in Indian ODI cricket