IND vs SA: Is there a tension brewing between two of India's most senior players and Gautam Gambhir? Eagle-eyed fans have spotted Virat Kohli potentially snubbing Gambhir after the 1st ODI.

Virat Kohli appears to have snubbed head coach Gautam Gambhir at the end of the first ODI against South Africa, as murmurs of a possible rift continue to circulate in certain sections of the media. Eagle-eyed fans spotted an incident involving Kohli and the head coach on Sunday, November 30, which quickly became a talking point online.

The moment occurred when Kohli, who played a match-winning innings against South Africa, was walking toward the dressing room after the hosts secured a 17-run victory in Ranchi. It looked like Kohli noticed Gautam Gambhir sitting beside the dressing room door but walked past without shaking hands or even acknowledging the head coach. This clip triggered immediate speculation.
 

Dainik Bhaskar on Monday reported that there was unease between the two senior players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The report suggested that Rohit and Virat, both having retired from T20Is and Tests, are united in their effort to extend their ODI careers and secure their spots in the format.

The daily also claimed that Kohli and Gambhir did not have any conversations during India’s net sessions in Ranchi, further fuelling the speculation.

However, fans who watched the match carefully debunked the theory. They posted another video that showed Kohli giving a brief side-hug to Gambhir at the end of the game, indicating that the two did acknowledge each other and that the viral clip did not tell the full story.

The Indian cricket team is currently navigating a crucial transition phase. With Rohit at 38 and Kohli at 37, both players have only a limited number of years left in international cricket. They are believed to be pushing for one final ICC event, the 2027 ODI World Cup. The Gautam Gambhir-led Indian management has refused to confirm their participation in the tournament and has consistently stated that the selection call will be taken closer to the event.

If the Ranchi ODI was any indication, Virat Kohli seems to have adopted a new batting approach in ODI cricket. He placed greater emphasis on boundary hitting rather than relying heavily on quick singles and aggressive running between the wickets.

Kohli’s fearless intent helped him score a terrific hundred, which formed the bedrock of India’s victory on Sunday.