Sitanshu Kotak, the batting coach for India, has refuted reports of a communication breakdown between star batsman Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, stating that despite their apparent distance during training sessions, the two speak “10 times a day.”
There are rumors that Gambhir and Kohli haven’t spoken to each other in a while, and the BCCI has been advised to engage a mediator to get the two to get down and work out their problems. The two were not spotted conversing, even during training sessions in Cardiff and Birmingham. Following a net session, Kohli was spotted conversing with Kotak.
The former Saurashtra left-hander laughed when asked if he serves as a “bridge” between Gambhir and Kohli.
“Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir speak to each other at least 10 times a day. I don’t think he (Kohli) needs a bridge to communicate with head coach,” Kotak claimed, contrary to what is being spoken about in the corridors of power of Indian cricket.
“You asked about communication, I don’t know from where you hear these things but these are rumours,” he further asserted.
Kotak echoed the recent statement made by his predecessor, Abhishek Nayar, saying one should not offer the legend any batting advice unless he asks for it.
“When Virat goes out to bat, what I have felt as a batting coach is that if he doesn’t ask for inputs or there is something major that warrants attention, there is no point in disturbing him. You shouldn’t give him unsolicited advice,” he said.
However, Kotak does share his thoughts when he asks about particular topics.
“The discussion is mostly around his footwork, certain things he told me before the session started (pre-match nets in Cardiff) and after nets, he was talking,” Kotak referred to his conversation during the team’s net session at Sophia Gardens on the eve of the second ODI against England.
