Virat Kohli – Gautam Gambhir: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak refuted speculation of functioning as a communication bridge between head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting powerhouse Virat Kohli, stating that the two often speak and require no middleman. Following India’s four-wicket loss to England in the second ODI, Kotak stated in the post-match press conference that his conversations with Kohli during practice were solely about batting.
WATCH: Sitanshu Kotak addresses Virat Kohli – Gautam Gambhir rumours
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Asked about spending time with Kohli after the batter’s net session and whether he was serving as a link between Gambhir and Kohli, Kotak said, “No, Virat and Gautam have probably talked 10-12 times today itself. I don’t think they need any bridge.”
Kotak explained that Kohli had approached him to discuss specific aspects of his batting, adding that he generally avoids making technical interventions unless the veteran batter seeks advice.
“Virat, basically, before going to bat, talked about certain things because Virat, honestly, as a batting coach, as long as he doesn’t feel anything or unless something really catches the eye, one shouldn’t disturb his batting much or say much, given how he bats. But mainly how his footwork is happening; certain things he asked me before, and then after the nets he was talking,” he said.
The batting coach also brushed aside rumours surrounding the relationship between Gambhir and Kohli. “Other than that, the rumours you’re talking about, I don’t know where they come from, but they do,” Kotak added.
England level series with 4-wicket win over India
After a second ODI loss against India at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, England got back on track and won the match to draw the three-match series 1-1. Chasing 234, the home side was in a tight spot with a loss of 5 for 125 before Joe Root anchored the innings with his unbeaten 99 off 133 balls and formed a match-winning 72-run stand with Will Jacks (30). Gus Atkinson, still on his mark after a good run in the match, remained the only batsman in the top half century, and the team reached the target way ahead of time. India had a good start with the ball too; Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett at the very first ball of the first innings, and Prasidh Krishna got Jacob Bethell early in the innings. Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar claimed two wickets, while Bumrah, Krishna, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel picked up one wicket each.
Before, India could only score 233 in 44 overs despite Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66) hitting half-centuries. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scored relatively less, 26 and 28 respectively. Ishan Kishan, playing in the place of a sick Rahul, managed a single-digit dismissal. It was a really controlled bowling performance with Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson taking three wickets each. Saqib Mahmood, who had a good bowling spell, picked up the last two wickets of the game, so India lost their tail. As the series will now be decided by the third and final ODI at Lord’s, which is to be played on July 19, it is an intriguing finish!
