There have been several misconceptions surrounding Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of India, and his relationships with former captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. While some believe he harbors a dislike for both cricketers, Gambhir’s childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, has set the record straight.

In a conversation on The Raunac Podcast (via Hindustan Times), Sanjay explained that Gautam Gambhir has never disliked anyone personally and does not hold grudges. He clarified that Gambhir may disagree with certain actions, but it’s never about personal animosity.

Sanjay shared his thoughts on Gautam Gambhir, emphasizing that Gautam has never held any personal animosity towards anyone. “People often claim that Gambhir doesn’t get along with Dhoni or even Virat Kohli, but that’s not true. Gautam doesn’t dislike anyone personally. He might disagree with certain actions, but there’s no personal grudge against anyone,” he said.

The tension between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli resurfaced during the 2023 IPL season following a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), sparked by an incident involving Afghanistan pacer Naveen Ul Haq. However, Sanjay Bharadwaj has addressed the situation, clarifying that if anyone targets Gambhir’s team members, such as Naveen in this case, it doesn’t matter to him, even if it’s Virat Kohli.

“We’ve discussed this multiple times. Gautam always says, ‘Sir, you know me—have I ever done or said anything negative about anyone? Never.’ It’s the same with Virat Kohli. Gautam’s focus is on supporting his team, not on individuals. For example, when someone criticizes Naveen, Gautam doesn’t care if it’s Kohli or anyone else.”

Sanjay also highlighted that while controversies involving Gambhir often emerge on the field, there’s no ill will off the pitch. The coach stressed that Gambhir’s disputes are always limited to what happens during the game, with no lingering issues outside it.

Sanjay added, “For Gautam, Naveen is part of his team, and that’s what matters most. He treats his team like family, and he would always step up for them, no matter what. His belief is simple: ‘I’ll defend my team no matter who’s against us.’ His controversies are always linked to what happens on the field, never beyond it.”