New Delhi: The tempest brewing inside Team India’s camp took a dramatic turn on Wednesday: what began as a tentative attempt at reconciliation has now been shelved altogether. A high-stakes mediation effort led by Agarkar was abruptly scrapped after insiders described relations between Gambhir and the senior players as “borderline cold.”
Agarkar had reportedly been scheduled to meet Kohli ahead of the second ODI in Raipur. Sources claim that the plan was abandoned once it became clear that the tension ran deeper than a few missed conversations.
In place of Agarkar, the board has now dispatched another selector — Pragyan Ojha — to try and act as a go-between. Early visuals of Ojha speaking intently with Kohli at the airport, while Gambhir sat nearby in company of Rohit, have only intensified public focus on what could be a serious rift.
Observers point to more than just a personality clash. Gambhir — known for his strict ‘team-first’ philosophy and aversion to superstar culture — reportedly differs with Kohli over the latter’s role and future in the side. Their friction has been simmering ever since poor Test outings under Gambhir, and Kohli’s recent refusal to play in the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy seems to have brought it into the open.
Kohli, after scoring a century in the series opener against South Africa, seemed to underline his independence: “I don’t believe in a lot of prep,” he was quoted as saying — a comment that some interpret as a dig at the board’s insistence on domestic-cricket participation.
With Agarkar out of the mediation plan, the BCCI now finds itself navigating a delicate balancing act. Sentiment inside the dressing room — and among fans — remains fragile. Whether Ojha’s intervention can restore harmony, or whether this marks the beginning of a deeper divide, remains to be seen.
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