Batting coach Kotak backs Rohit's form, rubbishes Kohli-Gambhir rift talk
Synopsis
With Rohit Sharma posting his slowest 25-plus ODI score by strike-rate and rift rumours swirling around Kohli and Gambhir, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stepped up to quell the noise — backing Rohit's class to resurface at Lord's and flatly denying any breakdown between the star batter and the head coach. The series decider on Sunday now carries the added weight of potentially being Rohit's last match for India.
Key Takeaways
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak defended Rohit Sharma's 26 off 43 balls in the second ODI at Cardiff , citing tough pitch conditions rather than a form slump.
Kotak dismissed reports of a rift between Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir , saying the two spoke 'at least 10 times' on the day.
India collapsed from 178 for 3 to 233 all out , losing their last 7 wickets for 55 runs .
Washington Sundar sustained what Kotak described as a likely hamstring injury during the innings, disrupting India's lower-order plans.
England won by chasing 234 with 35 balls to spare, Joe Root finishing unbeaten on 99 off 133 balls .
The series is level at 1-1 ; the decider takes place at Lord's on Sunday , potentially Rohit Sharma's last match for India.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on 17 July firmly backed captain Rohit Sharma despite a scratchy 26 off 43 balls in the second ODI at Cardiff, insisting the veteran opener is far too accomplished a player to buckle under pressure and that difficult pitch conditions were the primary factor behind his subdued returns.
Kotak's Defence of Rohit
Kotak, speaking at the post-match press conference, pushed back against any suggestion that Rohit was struggling. 'I don't think that a player as big as Rohit Sharma can feel any pressure. He's too good a player to feel that. Yes, he didn't get runs. I don't think that makes any difference,' he said.
The batting coach attributed the sluggish knock — Rohit's slowest 25-plus score in ODIs by strike-rate — to the surface rather than a technical fault. 'Maybe the shots he normally plays on the up, because of the double bounce, he probably felt were not comfortable,' Kotak explained, adding that he would not use the word 'struggling' to describe Rohit's form.
Rohit had managed just 11 in the series opener before the 26 at Cardiff. Kotak remained optimistic ahead of the decider. 'You might see a completely different innings from Rohit Sharma at Lord's,' he said.
Kohli-Gambhir Rift Rumours Dismissed
Kotak also addressed reports that Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir were seen avoiding direct interaction during India's Edgbaston training session. He dismissed the claims outright. 'Virat and Gautam, they must have talked 10 times today. I don't think he needs a bridge,' Kotak said.
He added that Kohli had spoken with him ahead of batting and again after the nets, and that any reports of a rift were unfounded. 'What you're saying, I don't know where the rumours come from, but they do come,' he said.
How India's Innings Unravelled
Batting first, India appeared well-placed at 178 for 3 before a dramatic collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for just 55 runs, bowled out for 233 in 44 overs. Kotak identified Washington Sundar's apparent hamstring injury — sustained while running towards mid-off — as a turning point, with the lower order unable to consolidate thereafter.
'From there, we again wanted a partnership, but unfortunately, we lost Axar and Shivam,' Kotak said, referring to Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, both dismissed in quick succession.
England's Comfortable Chase
England overhauled the modest target of 234 with 35 balls to spare, anchored by Joe Root's composed 99 not out off 133 balls. Gus Atkinson contributed an unbeaten 23 to seal the chase. The series is now level at 1-1.
What's Next
The three-match series will be decided in the third ODI at Lord's on Sunday. The match carries added weight as it could reportedly be Rohit Sharma's final international appearance for India.
Point of View
And even a single training-ground optic can ignite speculation. What the episode reveals is that India's management is acutely media-conscious heading into a high-stakes match at Lord's. The more pressing concern, however, is structural: a batting unit that slid from 178 for 3 to 233 all out has a middle-order fragility that no press conference can paper over, and England will have noted exactly how quickly the tail folded once Washington Sundar went down.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did batting coach Kotak defend Rohit Sharma after a slow knock in Cardiff?
Kotak argued that Rohit's subdued 26 off 43 balls was a product of a difficult pitch with double bounce rather than a technical failing or pressure. He refused to use the word 'struggling' and predicted a very different innings from Rohit at Lord's.
Are Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir having a rift?
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak flatly dismissed the rumours, saying Kohli and Gambhir spoke at least ten times on the day in question and that no mediator was needed between them. The claims reportedly stemmed from observations at an Edgbaston training session.
How did India lose the second ODI against England in Cardiff?
India were bowled out for 233 after collapsing from a strong position of 178 for 3, losing their last seven wickets for just 55 runs. England chased down 234 with 35 balls to spare, guided by Joe Root's unbeaten 99.
What happened to Washington Sundar during the second ODI?
Washington Sundar appeared to sustain a hamstring injury while running towards mid-off and was dismissed off the very next ball. Kotak described it as a 'bad injury' that disrupted India's lower-order plans at a critical stage.
Could the Lord's ODI be Rohit Sharma's last match for India?
According to reports, Sunday's third and deciding ODI at Lord's could be Rohit Sharma's final international appearance for India. The series is currently level at 1-1.
