Not fair to point fingers: Sunil Gavaskar on alleged rift between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Tags: India, Virat Kohli, Rohit Gurunath Sharma, Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, Captaincy

Published on: Dec 15, 2021

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged cricket experts and fans not to point fingers at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma unless they have any specific information on the alleged rift between the two superstars of Indian cricket. After Rohit was ruled out of the South Africa Tests due to a hamstring injury, some media reports on Tuesday claimed that Kohli would not be part of the ODIs due to personal reasons. However, a few other reports dismissed the claims and quoted BCCI officials as saying that Kohli had not asked for a break.

Various conspiracy theories have been doing the rounds ever since Virat Kohli was sacked as ODI captain and replaced by Rohit. Media reports claimed sources as saying that all is not well between the two senior cricketers. A few former cricketers also raised questions over the timing of Kohli’s alleged break. Ex-India captain Mohammad Azharuddin even hinted of an alleged rift between the two. He tweeted

"Virat Kohli has informed that he's not available for the ODI series & Rohit Sharma is unavailable fr d upcoming test. There is no harm in takin a break but d timing has to be better. This just substantiates speculation abt d rift. Neither wil be giving up d other form of cricket.”

According to Gavaskar, if Azharuddin has some inside information about the matter, he should share it with everyone. Speaking to India Today, the legendary former cricketer commented, "The question is, 'is there anything simmering at all (between Kohli and Rohit)?’ Unless both the players come out with something, we should not jump to conclusions. Yes, Azharuddin has said something but if he has got some inside information about what has happened then he should be coming out and telling us what happened

"Till then, I will give the benefit of the doubt to both the players. Because both have served Indian cricket brilliantly and I don't think it is fair at all for any one of us, without having exact information, to be pointing fingers at either of them," Gavaskar added.

While Rohit has been ruled out of the Tests, Kohli will lead the squad in the three-match Test series in South Africa. There is no clarity over whether or not Rohit will be available for the ODI series, for which he was named captain a few days back

India’s tour of South Africa will begin with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion from December 26, followed by 3 ODIs from January 19.

--By A Crickt Correspondent

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