The news broke yesterday. Indian media reported that tensions were running high in the dressing room of Rohit Sharma and his team. The conflict allegedly began in the dressing room itself. Reports even suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir had remarked, “Enough is enough.” Ahead of the Sydney Test, Gambhir addressed the matter candidly in a press conference. However, his statements offered mixed signals, both confirming and denying the rumors.
The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series is set to begin tomorrow at Sydney, starting early morning in Bangladesh time. Australia currently leads the series 2-1 after their 184-run victory in Melbourne. Indian media outlet The Indian Express reported that Gambhir had expressed frustration over players getting out while playing “natural games” instead of focusing on the match situation. He allegedly warned players that failing to play according to the team’s needs could cost them their place.
Typically, the captain attends pre-match press conferences, but this time Gambhir represented India. When asked about the rumors of dressing room disputes, he first dismissed them, saying, “These are just rumors, not true.” However, moments earlier, Gambhir had admitted, “Debates between players and coaches should stay in the dressing room. Harsh words have been exchanged.” His comments hinted at some tension in the dressing room, even as he dismissed the reports as baseless rumors.
On Rohit’s absence from the press conference, Gambhir said, “There’s no issue with Rohit. The head coach is here, which means everything is fine. We’ll finalize the XI tomorrow after assessing the pitch.” When asked if the struggling Rohit would play in Sydney, Gambhir reiterated, “As I said, we’ll announce the XI tomorrow after evaluating the pitch. My answer remains unchanged.”
Regarding the team’s situation, Gambhir said, “Everything is under control. Forty to forty-five days ago, if someone had told us we’d be in a position to draw the series in Sydney, we would’ve considered that a good outcome.” He continued, “I won’t discuss any individual player because wins and losses are a team result. Playing for the team means giving your best. Any disputes between coaches and players should remain private. Ultimately, the results are what matter in sports, whether fortunately or unfortunately.”
Gambhir emphasized the importance of honesty in the dressing room, saying, “As long as honest people remain in the dressing room, Indian cricket will be safe. Performance is the only thing that keeps you in the dressing room. Truth and honesty are vital.”
From a performance perspective, Rohit’s inclusion in the Sydney Test seems unlikely. In the current series, he has scored just 31 runs in five innings across three Tests, averaging a dismal 6.20. This is now the lowest batting average for any touring captain in Australia. India has a backup opener in Shubman Gill, who wasn’t played in Melbourne. Rohit’s persistence in opening despite his poor form has even led former cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra to call him selfish.
Gambhir clarified that his discussions with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have only been about winning the Sydney Test: “The only thing we’ve talked about is how we can win the next Test. Because we know how important this Test is.”
