"We don't know"- Scott Styris delivers shocking verdict on Gautam Gambhir-Virat Kohli relationship

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris shared his thoughts on the relationship between Virat Kohli and India coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Scott Styris said that both Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir will 'tap to bite their tongue' during the upcoming ODI series in Sri Lanka.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli had verbal spats in the past during the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the cricketer from Delhi appeared to mend fences during IPL 2024. Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid as Indian team coach, described their relationship as private and between two mature individuals.

The 35-year-old batter reached Colombo for the three-match series, scheduled to be played from August 2 to 7. The Indian T20I team is currently in Pallekele for the three-match T20I series. The players from the Indian T20I team and coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, will arrive in Colombo after the final match.

Both Will Just Tap To Bite Their Tongue - Scott Styris

In interaction with India today.in, Scott Styris said that Virat Kohli will closely observe how Gautam Gambhir manages the team. Styris added that Gambhir wants Kohli to provide support for the younger players in the squad.

"Yeah, it's a really good question. I think it's wait and see. I don't think anyone can sit here and say it's gonna work that well or it's not gonna work. I think both players will just tap to bite their tongue a little bit and observe and watch the way that, in Virat's case, watch the way Gautam is looking to run the team and Gautam will be looking for Virat's leadership to help all the younger players," said Styris.

It will be Virat Kohli's first ODI match after the ODI World Cup 2024 loss against Australia in November. The right-handed batter has played only T20I matches after that heartbreaking loss. He will return to the 50-over format to focus on preparing for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 early next year.

Don't Know About That Relationship - Scott Styris

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir have strong cricketing minds and will find a way to help the Indian team. Styris acknowledged that he is unaware of the relationship between Kohli and Gambhir.

"So there's so much that we don't know about that relationship and how it's going to operate in a team with two different players having two different levels of power in that group as well. So I think they're both. Firstly, they're both terrific cricketers. They both have very good cricket brains. I think they'd both be smart enough to work out a way where it can be beneficial to the team and their performances," Styris added.

Virat Kohli scored 765 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, including three centuries and six fifties. Overall, he has scored 13,848 runs in 292 ODIs, including 50 centuries and 72 fifties. He is behind only Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) and Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) among the leading run-getters in ODI cricket.

Also read: "School kids were playing" - Kamran Akmal lashes out at Sri Lankan batsmen after losing T20I series to India