Gautam Gambhir: The person who still irritates Gautam Gambhir’s eyes, the head coach does not even like to look at him, let alone talk to him.

New Delhi. India recently lifted the second ICC trophy under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir. After winning the Champions Trophy in 2025, India won the T20 World Cup title on March 8. As a cricketer, Gambhir also played an important role in winning two ICC trophies for India. The former opener played match-winning innings in the finals of 2007 and 2011. However, he was dropped from the team just two years after the 2011 World Cup. Gambhir is still angry with this decision of the selectors. The then Chief Selector Sandeep Patil has spoken openly on this. Sandeep Patil has told how the relationship between him and Gambhir deteriorated after Gambhir was dropped from the team.

Sandeep Patil has revealed that his relationship with Gautam Gambhir deteriorated after he was dropped from the team in 2013. Patil told that when Gambhir was dropped from India’s Test and ODI team in 2013 and Shikhar Dhawan was given a chance in his place, there was distance in their relationship. He said on YouTube channel ‘The Vickey Lalwani Show’, ‘We have been sitting in the same TV show many times. Gautam is serious and so am I. But he never even looked at me. Not even once. Every time I say ‘Hello’, I get no response.

Patil told that earlier there was a good relationship between the two. When Patil was removed from the post of India’s coach a few years ago, Gambhir had called him and asked about his well-being, but after he was dropped from the team in 2013, there was a big rift in their relationship. However, Patil said that despite this he respects Gambhir. He said, ‘He doesn’t forget things and doesn’t even forgive. It’s okay. But I still respect and like him.

While talking about his bond with Gambhir at that time, Sandeep Patil said, ‘He was a very good person. We used to play tennis together during the tour and we had a very good rapport. When I was removed from the post of coach, Gautam used to call me almost every two weeks to inquire about my well-being. Such is his nature. The former chief selector further said, ‘Gautam was very serious about his career and always paid attention to his batting and playing style. No cricketer wants to leave the field when he is playing well. No player wants to be out of the team.

Taking the names of VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, Patil said, ‘Laxman and Dravid left silently. Sehwag wanted a good farewell ceremony for him, but he did not get that either. So I can understand this.