'Gautam still hasn’t gotten over it, he hasn't spoken to me in 10 years'; former chief selector on fallout with Gautam Gambhir

MUMBAI: Former India chief selector Sandeep Patil has revealed the reason behind his long-standing fallout with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. Patil said their relationship has been strained for more than a decade. Speaking in a podcast, he explained that the disagreement began in 2013 when Gambhir was dropped from the Indian team.

“Gautam still hasn’t gotten over it. It has been a long time since he spoke to me. We have taken part in many TV shows together and even sat in the same room. But he has never once looked at me. I have no complaints about that. I have gone up to him and said hello, but he wouldn’t even turn around. That is his choice, and I understand it,” Patil said.

“He does not forget things easily and does not forgive people quickly. But I still have great respect for him. He was very dear to me. We used to play tennis together. Even when I was removed from my coaching role years ago, he would call me every couple of weeks to check on me,” Patil added.

In 2013, the selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil picked the Indian squad for the home series against Australia. Gambhir was dropped from the team due to poor form, and young opener Shikhar Dhawan was selected instead. Dhawan scored 187 runs on his debut in Mohali and secured his place in the team, which made Gambhir’s return difficult.

Gambhir played a key role in India’s victories in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He scored 75 and 97 runs in the finals of those tournaments respectively. However, Gambhir reportedly felt that his international career should have lasted longer. He was also left out of the squad for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

Times have changed, and Gambhir is now the head coach of the Indian team. Under his guidance, India successfully defended the title at the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Gambhir also played a key role in backing players like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Varun Chakravarthy and bringing them back into the team. Interestingly, Gambhir, whose career once changed due to a selector’s decision, has now become one of the key figures shaping team selection and strategies for India.