'There was a Rohit camp and a Virat camp'- Ex-fielding coach uncovers Team India's behind-the-scenes drama

Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Ravi Shastri (Image source: Twitter)

Team India has seen some of the greatest batsmen in the world play for it. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of the most prominent names among these batsmen. The two have been playing together for the Indian team since 2008 and have been an integral part of the team's success over the years. Their on-field chemistry is undeniable and whenever they bat together, it's a treat for cricket fans.

However, things were not always so perfect between the two. Rumours of a rift between Kohli and Rohit were doing the rounds and it seemed that social media and reports of a tiff had affected their relationship. But the situation was dealt with before it could escalate. Former India fielding coach R Sridhar, in his book "Coaching Beyond", reveals what happened behind the scenes. According to Sridhar, things started to improve between Kohli and Rohit after a swift and decisive intervention by Ravi Shastri.

"After the 2019 World Cup, there was a lot of bad press about what allegedly happened in the dressing room during our campaign and following our loss to New Zealand in the semi-final. We were informed that there was a Rohit camp and a Virat camp, that someone had unfollowed another on social media – stuff that could be unsettling if you allowed it to fester," wrote Sridhar.

However, things took a turn for the better when Shastri stepped in. "We landed in the United States some 10 days after the World Cup for a T20 series against West Indies in Lauderhill. One of the first things Ravi did on arrival was to call Virat and Rohit to his room and impress upon them that for Indian cricket to be healthy, they needed to be on the same page. 'Whatever happened on social media, that's all fine, but you two are the most senior cricketers so this must stop,' Ravi said in his typical no-nonsense manner. 'I want you to put all this behind and get together for us to move forward.'"

Ravi Shashtri's intervention mended the relationship

The intervention by Shastri was simple and straightforward. He made Kohli and Rohit talk to each other and clear the air. The fact that both Kohli and Rohit saw reason in Shastri's stance and immediately got down to business is a testament to the culture of the Indian cricket team. Sridhar writes, "That he felt encouraged to call the white-ball captain and his deputy to clearly state his mind is indicative of the kind of atmosphere we had facilitated. That Virat and Rohit saw reason in Ravi's stance and immediately got down to business was the ultimate tribute to our culture 'one for all, all for one, but team above all'."

The India cricket team is known for its unity and camaraderie, and the Kohli-Rohit episode is just one example of it. Shastri's swift action and the willingness of Kohli and Rohit to put their differences aside for the good of the team is what makes the Indian cricket team one of the strongest in the world.