'Aaj farewell match tha...': Gautam Gambhir's chat with Rohit Sharma after India's ODI series loss to Australia breaks internet, Watch video

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's 'farewell' remark for Rohit Sharma went viral on social media following Men in Blue's series-losing two-wicket defeat to Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide on October 24. Rohit's ODI retirement swirled on social medial after his dismal outing in the series opener. Rohit roared back in form in the second ODI and came up with a crucial 73, silencing the critics who had been questioning his form.

Sabko lag raha tha ki aaj farewell match tha: Gambhir to Rohit

Right after the match, a lighthearted exchange between the duo, captured in a video that swiftly went viral, shows Gambhir making a playful jab at the star batter. As they were heading to the team hotel, Gambhir was seen teasing Rohit about a possible farewell match and even asking him to pose for a photograph, framing the performance as a potential final act. This joke subtly acknowledged the retirement buzz while celebrating Rohit's crucial innings.

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“Rohit, sabko lag raha tha ki aaj farewell match tha, ek photo to lagaa do,” Gambhir was heard saying in a clip.

Watch the video here:

A fan at the Indian team's hotel in Australia seemingly captured the moment. However, there is no veracity of the video, but the visible smiles and shared laughter among Gambhir, Rohit, and captain Shubman Gill clearly suggested a moment of light-hearted exchange and it had nothing to do with Rohit's ODI future.

Nevertheless, this seemingly casual quip has ignited a fresh wave of fan speculation regarding Rohit Sharma's future in ODI cricket, particularly following months of uncertainty after his removal as India’s white-ball captain. The veteran opener, who was returning to international cricket after a seven-month break, had struggled in the series opener in Perth, scoring only eight runs.

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However, in Adelaide, Rohit proved his batting might and cracked a key 73 off 97 balls. He anchored India’s innings alongside Shreyas Iyer (61), helping the team post 264/9. However, his efforts went in vain as Australia rode on Cooper Connolly and Matt Short's fifties to chase down the target with 22 balls to spare. Meanwhile, the third and final ODI between India and Australia is scheduled to be played on October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).