India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about his relationship with former skipper Rohit Sharma, explaining that their equation was never limited to the conventional coach-captain dynamic.

The comments come amid repeated speculation surrounding the relationship between the two former India teammates. Gambhir, however, explained that their association goes back to Rohit’s early years in international cricket, long before Gambhir became India’s head coach.

Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma knew each other before the coaching era

Gambhir pointed out that he already knew Rohit when the latter was establishing himself in the Indian team.

According to the India head coach, their relationship therefore did not begin when he took over the coaching role. Gambhir was already a senior player when Rohit entered the international setup, giving the two a shared history that later carried into their professional relationship as coach and captain.

Explaining the background, Gambhir said on JioHotstar:

“Rohit’s and my relationship wasn’t just of captain and coach.”

He added that Rohit had known him since his early days in the Indian team, making their working relationship different from one between a coach and player meeting for the first time.

That familiarity, Gambhir believes, has helped both men understand each other’s approach.

Gambhir: “Rohit knows my thinking”

The India coach also explained that having played alongside Rohit made communication easier.

Gambhir said:

“So often when you have played together, things become very easy. And in fact, he knows my thinking, I know his thinking.”

The comment offers an important insight into how Gambhir views their relationship. Rather than seeing their association purely through the lens of coaching responsibilities, he considers their playing history an important part of the equation.

That does not necessarily mean they always agree. Coaches and players can have different opinions on cricketing matters, but Gambhir’s comments suggest that their longstanding familiarity provides a foundation for handling those differences.

Relationship speculation has followed Gambhir and Rohit

The relationship between Gambhir and Rohit has attracted considerable attention during Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach.

The speculation intensified around India’s Test struggles and Rohit’s retirement from Test cricket in 2025. Gambhir acknowledged earlier this year that he may have made mistakes during his first 18 months in the job, while stressing that his decisions were made with the team’s interests in mind.

There have also been moments on the field that generated discussion. During India’s third ODI against England at Lord’s in July, Rohit and Gambhir were seen having an animated conversation after Rohit’s century. The exchange prompted considerable social media discussion, although the visuals alone did not establish that the pair were involved in a disagreement.

Gambhir’s latest comments provide his own explanation of the relationship rather than relying on speculation surrounding individual incidents.

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Rohit still an important figure for India

While Rohit is no longer India’s captain, he remains an experienced member of the ODI setup.

The BCCI has also publicly stated that Rohit’s appearance at Lord’s was not intended to be his final ODI for India. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in July that Rohit remained a regular member of the ODI team. With Shubman Gill now leading India, the experience of the two senior batters – Rohit and Virat Kohli – remains an important part of the team’s setup.

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