Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir Rift Rumors Explained: What Really Happened at India’s Training Session?

A routine training session ahead of India’s first ODI against England has once again drawn unwanted attention to Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Photos and videos of the Indian team’s practice session went viral on social media, wherein many users claimed that Kohli and Gambhir were seen not communicating with each other and even suggested that there was a rift between the two.

The social media buzz was further fueled by the two having had intense on-field clashes during the Indian Premier League.
However, do these images and videos actually suggest that there is a rift between Kohli and Gambhir? Let’s take a look.

No, not really. Not at this point.

How did the rumors of a rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir begin?

🔴 NO CONVERSATION BETWEEN VIRAT KOHLI & GAUTAM GAMBHIR? 🤯

– From Rohit Sharma to Gill, the coach had conversations with everyone except Virat Kohli.[📸 Ankan Kar]pic.twitter.com/zXlO2DSVsB

— Sam (@cricsam02) July 14, 2026

The speculations were rife after India’s training session, where Virat Kohli didn’t interact with his coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir was seen talking to many during the practice, including the captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, while Kohli spent a considerable amount of time with the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, working on his pre-game preparations.

As the TV cameras and reporters captured everything, Gambhir and Kohli were not seen talking to each other.
So, soon on social media, there were rumors regarding a rift between the two.

In the cricket world, it’s not a surprise that history repeats itself.
The main reason why these rumors resurfaced is that Kohli and Gambhir have a ‘rival’ connection. The two used to engage in some pretty high-profile ‘on-field’ brawls during the IPL, creating the most-talked-about sagas in Indian cricket.

But it was all in the past now, after Gambhir took over as India’s coach, and they both seem not to hold any grudges. The two cricket legends even played a part in winning the Champions Trophy, and Gambhir was seen in the dugout as Kohli starred with the bat in hand, scoring big.

So, what happened during the training? Well, the real reason is very simple.

International cricket training sessions rarely happen in a jumbled manner.
It’s normal for some batsmen to be seen spending more hours with the specialist coach, while others keep working on their bowling or fielding skills.

Especially when a player is preparing for his pre-game, he works out a lot with the relevant coach.

And that’s exactly what was the case between Virat Kohli and Sitanshu Kotak, during the practice session.

No evidence found to support the speculation. Most importantly, there has been no official announcement regarding the conflict between Gambhir and Kohli.

Neither the players nor the BCCI is saying anything about the alleged row. The team management has repeatedly denied the rumors about dressing-room fallouts on the eve of the Tests. They are focusing only on the game.

As of now, the only thing that is known is that Gambhir and Kohli did not talk to each other during one of the practice matches.
That is hardly a sufficient reason for assuming that there is a rift between the two.

Also read: How Bazball Fell Apart: Brendon McCullum’s England Era Ends After a Revolution That Changed Test Cricket

Verdict: Speculation, not facts

Social media is filled with rumors about the rift between Kohli and Gambhir. This is because people want to know more about the famous cricketers and their personal lives.
However, there is no proof that Kohli and Gambhir are “not on talking terms.”

Unless the players or the BCCI announce it, it is just a rumour. For now, the Indian cricket team is only focused on the ODI series against England and not on the rumors that are doing the rounds on the internet.