Former India star questions Gambhir for not acknowledging Rohit & Kohli after ODI series win

After India sealed a 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa, former India batter Robin Uthappa made a striking observation about head coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite match-winning contributions from senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gambhir did not mention either of them during the post-match press conference.

Kohli dominated the three-match series with 302 runs, including two consecutive hundreds and an unbeaten 65 in the final ODI, earning him the Player of the Series award. Rohit was also in excellent form, scoring 146 runs with two valuable fifties that helped India navigate pressure and build strong totals throughout the series at home.

Yet, Gambhir did not highlight their performances after the series win in Visakhapatnam, something Uthappa found unusual. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said it felt odd that Gambhir omitted praise for two players who were instrumental in India’s success. He noted that both veterans delivered exceptional innings, silenced critics, and demonstrated their continued value to the team.

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Following the series, Gambhir also refrained from giving a clear stance on Rohit and Kohli’s future in the 2027 ICC World Cup. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar similarly avoided specific comments. The head coach emphasised that the World Cup is still two years away and insisted the focus must remain on the present. 

Gambhir concluded by saying that time will provide clarity on their long-term roles but stressed that he hopes they continue delivering impactful performances.

Meanwhile, both Rohit and Kohli are expected to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai and Delhi respectively, ahead of India’s ODI series against New Zealand in January.