The recent incident between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir has sparked a lot of controversy in the cricketing world. The two Indian cricket legends, who have been at loggerheads in the past, were involved in a heated exchange during a recent IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
The Incident
The incident started when Gambhir, the mentor of LSG, celebrated his team’s narrow win over RCB by gesturing towards the RCB fans, putting a finger on his lips to silence them. This did not go down well with Kohli, who decided to give it back to Gambhir when he took a catch and brought out his own ‘finger on the lips’ celebration.
The Fallout
The fight escalated when Naveen-ul-Haq, an Afghanistan fast bowler, was at the crease. Kohli, pumped up at the fall of regular wickets and sensing blood, gestured Siraj to bowl bouncers at Naveen. This led to a heated exchange between Kohli and Naveen, with Gambhir eventually getting involved.
The Consequences
Both Gambhir and Kohli are known to wear their hearts on their sleeves while playing cricket. Be it as opponent teams’ captains in the IPL or more recently, as a mentor and senior players of their respective franchises, the two have had some fiery clashes on the field. But, after Gambhir’s switch to Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor, it all seemed well between him and Kohli when they met during an IPL 2024 match.
The Social Media Fallout
The incident has sparked a lot of debate on social media, with both Kohli and Gambhir’s fans taking to Twitter to defend their respective heroes. The RCB social media team has been accused of trying to justify Kohli’s aggression, which has been seen as boorish by many. On the other hand, Gambhir’s political secretary has accused Kohli of asking his trolls to abuse Gambhir’s daughters, which is an unacceptable low.
The Lesson Learned
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of maintaining a level head, especially in high-pressure situations. As Kohli himself admitted, aggression can sometimes feel fake, and it’s important to know when to draw the line. The BCCI would do well to take note of this incident and take steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
Kohli’s and Gambhir’s Clear Message to BCCI
A few months ago, Gambhir had spoken of his relationship with Kohli, saying the country doesn’t even know what sort of a bond the two have.
“The perception is far away from the reality. My relationship with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn’t need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public,” Gambhir had said.
In a recent RCB video, Kohli sent a clear message to the BCCI, saying, “You got to take it, otherwise don’t give it.” This statement is seen as a clear indication that Kohli is not willing to back down from a fight, and is ready to take on anyone who comes his way. Even Virat had admitted that people were disappointed in him after he hugged Naveen-ul-Haq and Gautam Gambhir.
“People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai Gautam Gambhir came and hugged me. Your masala is over, so you’re booing. We’re not kids anymore,” Virat had said during a Puma event.
Both Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma weren’t expected to be available for the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at first. But, considering it was Gambhir’s first series in charge, the two made themselves available for selection.
FAQ’s
Q: What was the recent incident between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir?
A: The recent incident was a heated exchange between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Q: What triggered the incident?
A: The incident started when Gambhir, the mentor of LSG, celebrated his team's narrow win over RCB by gesturing towards the RCB fans, putting a finger on his lips to silence them. This did not go down well with Kohli, who decided to give it back to Gambhir when he took a catch and brought out his own 'finger on the lips' celebration.
Q: What lesson can be learned from this incident?
A: The incident has once again highlighted the importance of maintaining a level head, especially in high-pressure situations. As Kohli himself admitted, aggression can sometimes feel fake, and it's important to know when to draw the line.
Q: What action should the BCCI take to prevent such incidents in the future?
A: The BCCI should take steps to ensure that players and team officials are aware of the code of conduct and the consequences of breaching it. They should also provide training and counseling to help players manage their emotions and aggression in a healthy way.
Q: Is this the first time Kohli and Gambhir have clashed?
A: No, this is not the first time Kohli and Gambhir have clashed. The two have had a history of conflicts, both on and off the field, dating back to their playing days.
