Virat Kohli refuses to join victory celebrations despite repeated calls; Gambhir–Rohit chat spills into team hotel

By Admin

02 Dec, 2025

India’s return to ODI cricket after a tough Test series setback began on a high, but off-field visuals soon shifted the spotlight from their performance to tension within the camp. In the first ODI against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, India clinched a 17-run victory, putting behind the disappointment of suffering their second Test series whitewash at home within 12 months.

Virat Kohli, who starred with his 52nd ODI century, played a pivotal role in India’s strong total. His composed knock set the tone before Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana combined brilliantly to restrict South Africa to 332, sealing the win. Kohli’s innings also earned him the Player of the Match award, signaling a strong comeback after successive ducks earlier in the series.

But while the on-field action impressed the fans, what unfolded at the team hotel quickly went viral.

Kohli Walks Past Celebrations, Refuses to Join Despite Calls

After the match, stand-in skipper KL Rahul leading in Shubman Gill’s absence due to injury was seen celebrating the win by cutting a cake in the team hotel lobby. The moment was captured and shared widely on social media, showing players and staff gathered around in high spirits.

Kohli entered the lobby just as the celebration was underway. Surprisingly, despite being repeatedly called to join the group, he refused to stop, walking straight past the gathering and stepping into the elevator without acknowledging the celebration. The clip sparked widespread discussion, with many wondering what prompted Kohli’s detached response.

Gambhir–Rohit Discussion Continues at Hotel

Adding to the intrigue, another video showed India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former captain Rohit Sharma engrossed in a deep conversation in the lobby area as Rahul cut the cake. The two had already been seen earlier in a long, animated discussion inside the dressing room moments after India’s win, joined by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.

These back-to-back visuals have fueled speculation about internal differences within the ODI setup.

Are Things Not Smooth Within the ODI Camp?

Another clip making rounds purportedly shows Kohli appearing to ignore Gambhir in the dressing room. All three clips surfaced amid reports claiming that not everything is fine within India's ODI environment.

While India have won two of their last four ODIs with either Kohli or Rohit securing the Player of the Match award the off-field dynamics seem more complicated. Rohit impressed in Australia with scores of 73 and 121, earning the Player of the Series, and followed it with a solid 57 in Ranchi. Kohli, meanwhile, bounced back strong with knocks of 74 and 135 after two back-to-back ducks.

According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the atmosphere in the T20I and Test teams remains stable, but the ODI dressing room appears to be unsettled. The report cites a BCCI source stating that Gambhir no longer shares the same rapport with senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as before. It even suggests that a meeting regarding the future of the two senior players could take place in Raipur or Visakhapatnam venues for the next ODIs.

The report further adds that the relationship between Kohli, Rohit, and the selectors has also turned tense, an issue reportedly visible during the Australia tour in October.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite the cloud of speculation, India’s strong on-field performances offer hope that professionalism will prevail. As the series progresses, all eyes will be on team dynamics whether these surfaced tensions fade away or lead to further clarity in the days to come.