Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir - (Source: RCBNation/X.com)
On Sunday, January 11, India will face New Zealand in the first of a three-match ODI series. The 15-member squad has assembled in Baroda, which will host the curtain raiser game. The Shubman Gill-led side are sweating hard in the nets, and the BCCI too has shared pictures from training.
Eyes are on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will return to action for the first time since the South Africa ODIs. Notably, the upcoming series will be Virat and Rohit’s final appearence for India before a long break. They will return to national duty only after the conclusion of IPL 2026.
Amid the wait for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s return, several photos and clips of their training have gone viral on social media. A photo, particularly, is now making waves on the internet, where India's head coach Gautam Gambhir can be seen bowling to Virat Kohli. Now, the image has fans guessing whether the incident is real or AI generated.
Did Gautam Gambhir really bowl to Virat Kohli in the nets?
For the unversed, the image is not real and is a collage of two separate images. One picture has been taken from a different training session, where he bowled in the nets. Therefore, a user just combined two pictures to create a feeling that Gambhir was bowling to Virat Kohli in the nets.
Further, if we closely look at the two images, then the stumps behind Gambhir are slightly different from the ones seen behind Virat Kohli. However, the confusion arose because most of the details in the image match with each other, such as the training kit, sponsors, and turf details. However, the image is not real, and Gambhir did not bowl to Virat Kohli in the nets.
Gambhir and Virat Kohli: A talked-about relation in Indian cricket
Notably, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli’s names is not often taken together because of a rumoured rift. Notably, the two legendary Indian figures got into an altercation during IPL 2023, which led to reports that things are not well between the two.
When Gambhir was roped in as India's head coach, there were comments made that the former India opener is looking for a fresher lot and doesn’t want to continue with veterans like Virat and Rohit. Further, Virat and Rohit’s Test retirement led to the fandom distancing itself from Gautam Gambhir.
In the latest events, the two veterans were asked to prove themselves in ODIs to continue being in the scheme of things. However, Virat and Rohit performed, and Gambhir was at the centre of criticism. Therefore, the difference between Virat and Gambhir has led to a perception that all is not well between the two.
 (1).jpg?type=mq "WPL opening ceremony: 👀")
