IND vs SA 2025: Virat Kohli Walks Past Celebrations While Rohit and Gambhir Hold Another Heated-Looking Chat in Hotel Lobby
Virat Kohli’s 135 leads India to a 17-run win, but his absence from celebrations and tense scenes with Gambhir spark rift talk.
India’s first ODI win against South Africa in Ranchi brought joy on the field but raised fresh questions off it. The team gathered at the hotel to celebrate the 17-run victory. KL Rahul cut a small cake as players and staff cheered around him.
Virat Kohli, who had scored a superb 135 in the match, walked past the celebration without stopping. Fans and hotel staff urged him to join, but he smiled briefly and kept moving. The moment was captured in a phone video that spread quickly online.
A second clip from the hotel lobby added more fuel to the chatter. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma were seen standing away from the group, locked in a serious conversation. Their expressions looked tense and focused, and neither seemed aware of the cameras around them.
These scenes have come at a time when reports say the bond between Gambhir and senior players Kohli and Rohit has grown cold. There is talk of a meeting in Raipur or Visakhapatnam to discuss how the team will move forward and what roles the two senior stars will play.
The BCCI has already asked Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to explain the growing communication gap. It is not clear if Kohli and Rohit will be part of that discussion, which has only added to the buzz.
India had earlier put up 349 for 8 after Kohli’s 52nd ODI hundred. Rahul scored a handy 60 and Ravindra Jadeja added a quick 32. South Africa fought hard in reply and reached 332, but India held firm in the final overs. Kohli was named Player of the Match for his composed and powerful knock.
The win should have lifted spirits, but the scenes at the hotel have shifted the focus. Fans are now wondering whether the team can settle its off-field issues before the next match. For now, India has the lead in the series, but the mood around the camp feels anything but calm.
