Former Pakistan captain takes a dig at Gautam Gambhir, backs Kohli and Rohit

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stirred up a fresh round of cricketing debate by strongly endorsing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma while making what appeared to be a subtle remark aimed at India head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

Afridi openly asserted that India’s veteran batting duo remains essential to the country’s ODI setup and should not be overlooked in long-term planning, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in sight.

Afridi’s comments arrived amid ongoing discussions about India’s future batting direction. He believes that the team should continue to rely on Kohli and Rohit, as their experience, form and fitness still place them at the heart of the Indian lineup. This perspective counters the growing push for a newer batting core and suggests that major transitions can wait.

He proposed a more balanced workload strategy, recommending that young players be given exposure against relatively weaker opposition while the senior pros continue to feature in major tournaments and high-stakes series. This, he argued, would help India protect its most reliable match-winners for crucial contests.

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Afridi also shared a remark that indirectly pointed to Gambhir’s coaching beliefs, implying that the former opener initially operated with the assumption that his outlook was the ultimate guideline. Without citing a specific incident, Afridi highlighted that time teaches every coach the importance of flexibility, a statement that has rekindled conversation about the long-standing competitiveness between the two former cricketers.

In a lighter tone, Afridi expressed happiness over Rohit Sharma surpassing his ODI sixes record. Rohit, who overtook Afridi’s mark of 351 by reaching 355 in the Raipur ODI against South Africa, received high praise from the former Pakistan star. Afridi called Rohit’s achievement well-deserved, noting that cricket progresses when records fall and new standards are set.