I wouldn’t have allowed it to escalate, says Team India head coach candidate on how he would solve Rohit-Kohli rift

There have been reports of the alleged rift between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma since India’s loss to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. The Indian captain has already quashed all the rumours stating it as disrespectful for the cricketers. Interestingly though the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) asked one of the head coach candidates how he would solve the Rohit-Kohli if at all it is there.

The CAC led by Kapil Dev reappointed Ravi Shastri as the head coach of the Indian team earlier this week. They clearly stated that it was a unanimous decision between the three-member panel and also let the media know on what basis the coach was selected.

The excerpts of some of the interviews are coming out now with one of the candidates saying that he was asked about the rift between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Firstly though he denied any such rift and then went on to add that if there was any such rift, as a head coach, he would’ve stepped in immediately and tried to solve it as he wishes to have a good atmosphere in the dressing room.

I want a happy and healthy dressing room

“I told the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that there is no such fight and Virat has gone on record to deny this, so I don’t know how to answer this question but I would have stepped in immediately and doused it. I wouldn’t have allowed it to escalate. I would also involve the BCCI and keep them in the loop because I want a happy and healthy dressing room. If at all there was a rift why couldn’t the present coach solve it?” the candidate was quoted as saying by Mid-Day.

Moreover, there is also an air of disappointment among the Indian coaches for being rate less than the likes of Mike Hesson and Tom Moody. These two candidates came second and third in the race while the ratings given to Robin Singh and Lalchand Rajput weren’t revealed by the CAC.

“I was even complimented for my coaching knowledge by one member of the CAC. He asked me how did I learn so much about coaching. I was also asked whether I would do the job for only the limited-overs team or only the Test side and I replied in the affirmative,” the candidate further added.

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