There have been several misconceptions regarding India’s current head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and his relationships with former captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. While many believe he dislikes both cricketers, his childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, has now clarified the situation.
Speaking on ‘The Raunac Podcast’(as reported by ‘Hindustan Times’), Sanjay emphasized that Gambhir does not harbor personal grudges or dislike anyone. Instead, he explained that Gambhir’s opinions are based on specific actions rather than individuals, stating:
“Gautam has never disliked anyone. This is a fact. People say that Gambhir doesn’t like Dhoni. Even Virat Kohli for that matter. He doesn’t dislike anyone. He only likes and dislikes certain acts. Gautam Gambhir doesn’t have a personal grudge against anyone,” Sanjay said.
Gambhir has openly stated that India’s 2011 World Cup win was a team effort, not just about Dhoni’s final six. This has fueled the perception that he is not on good terms with Dhoni.
“Gambhir Treats Everyone Equally”: Coach Sanjay Bharadwaj
A similar perception arose about Gambhir disliking Kohli, stemming from their 2013 IPL clash and a 2023 incident involving Naveen Ul Haq. However, coach Sanjay Bharadwaj clarified that Gambhir defends his players, regardless of who is involved.
“We have spoken about it. He says ‘Sir, you know, right? Have I ever done anything? Ever said something about anyone? Never.’ Even Virat Kohli for that matter. He only fights for the team. For example, if anyone says anything to Naveen, then for Gautam it doesn’t matter whether it’s Kohli or anyone else,” Sanjay reflected.
Sanjay clarified that Gambhir’s on-field controversies do not extend to personal grudges off the field. He added:
“He feels ‘Naveen is my team player’. And being the family that he was, being the senior that he was, Gautam stepped up. Gambhir treats his team as family, that philosophy which states, ‘I will run into anyone against my team.’ His controversies stem from everything that happens on the ground. It never spills out of the ground,” he concluded.
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