Virat Kohli’s legacy under fire as journalists slam India’s current setup

Virat Kohli’s name has resurfaced in a fresh debate over India’s cricket culture after veteran journalists Shekhar Gupta and Harsha Bhogle publicly questioned the direction of the national team. The remarks came amid the fallout from the Rohit Sharma retirement saga, which has exposed fractures in the team’s environment.

What happened?

The controversy began with reports claiming Rohit Sharma had been told he was not in India’s 2027 World Cup plans. The leak triggered a BCCI clarification and drew sharp criticism from two of cricket’s most respected voices. Harsha Bhogle, the veteran commentator, called the handling of the episode “damaging to Indian cricket” and slammed the irresponsible leak and the scramble that followed.

Shekhar Gupta, founder of ThePrint, went further. On X, he framed the affair as a sign of deeper problems and contrasted it with the robust setup built under Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli. “This isn’t the robust, cohesive unit that Shastri-Kohli built,” Gupta wrote, warning that India must fix the culture before Australia’s five-Test home series in January 2027.

Why it matters for Virat Kohli

Neither journalist named Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach, but the timing of their remarks left little doubt about their target. The criticism carries weight because India’s recent performances have raised serious questions. The team was whitewashed 4-0 in the T20I series by England, swept 2-0 by Ireland, and surrendered their world No. 1 T20I ranking. Reports also suggest assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and bowling coach Morne Morkel are weighing exits, while fielding coach T. Dilip faces pressure over performance issues.

Gupta’s warning about the Australia series underscores the stakes. India’s marquee home assignment looms large, and the team’s ability to regroup will test whether the culture built under Shastri and Kohli still exists. The current turmoil risks repeating the mistakes that led to past failures on foreign soil.

What the critics said

Bhogle opened the debate with a direct rebuke of the leak and its aftermath. “This whole business around Rohit Sharma, from an irresponsible leak to a high-level clarification, is so damaging to Indian cricket and the atmosphere in the team,” he wrote. Gupta amplified the critique, framing the episode as part of a broader pattern of leaks, whispers, and insecurity that he argues has taken root.

Gupta’s contrast with the Shastri-Kohli era was pointed. He argued that recent success had masked underlying dysfunction, and that the current setup lacks the cohesion that defined India’s rise under their leadership. His warning about the Australia series served as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead.

What comes next?

The BCCI has yet to respond publicly to the criticism, but the pressure on Gautam Gambhir’s regime is mounting. The team’s next steps will be closely watched, especially with the Australia series just months away. Whether India can rediscover the culture that propelled them to the top under Shastri and Kohli may determine their fortunes in the coming years.

For Virat Kohli, the debate is more than just a passing storm. It touches on the legacy he helped build and the standards he set. The current turmoil raises a simple question: Can India recapture the spirit that made them a dominant force in world cricket?