India clinched a consolation win in the third ODI in Sydney, thanks to a commanding 168-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (Image credit: Cricket Australia)

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has stirred debate with his recent remarks about not celebrating series losses, which many fans have interpreted as a subtle criticism of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following India’s 2-1 ODI series defeat in Australia. The controversy arose despite the duo’s much-praised partnership that powered India to victory in the final match.India clinched a consolation win in the third ODI in Sydney, thanks to a commanding 168-run stand between Rohit and Kohli — a performance that drew widespread applause from fans and pundits alike. Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 121 off 125 balls, while Virat Kohli scored 74 not out off 81 deliveries, guiding India to a successful chase of 237 runs in 38.3 overs.Shortly after the celebrations, Gambhir shared his perspective in a video released by the BCCI on social media.“Look, I don’t think so, honestly. I think I’ve always been a believer that it’s not about the individual performances. Yes, I can be very happy with the individual performances, yes. And I will always remain happy with individual performances, but ultimately, we lost the ODI series. That’s the bottom line. And I can never celebrate a series loss as a coach,” Gambhir stated.He further explained his viewpoint on the responsibility of representing India.

“As a player, I can appreciate individuals, but as a coach, I think it is my moral responsibility that we as a nation and we as individuals should never, never celebrate a series loss. Ultimately, we are representing the country,” he added.Although Gambhir did not name any players, many fans online believe his remarks were aimed at Rohit and Kohli’s post-match celebration, sparking intense debate across social media.