The recent altercation between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli after an IPL game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants has left opinions divided. Some found it to be a juvenile exchange, while others appreciated the intense rivalry. A witness who was present in one of the team dug-outs gave a lowdown of the events.
Mayers asked Kohli why he was constantly abusing them, and Kohli questioned why Mayers was ‘staring’ at him. Before this, Mishra had complained to the umpire about Kohli constantly abusing Naveen ul-Haq, a No. 10 batter. Gambhir sensed that things could turn ugly and pulled Mayers away from the conversation. A heated exchange followed between Gambhir and Kohli, which seemed a bit juvenile.
The complicated relationship between the two players dates back to 2013 when Kolkata Knight Riders were playing Royal Challengers Bangalore, and they nearly came to blows. Gambhir was a shrewd captain at KKR while Kohli was the superstar in the making. Kohli got a chance to show one-upmanship, knowing that Gambhir had been a staunch critic of his captaincy. Both players were fined their full match fees, and it remains unknown how the BCCI computes a mentor’s penalty.
The RCB social media content team asked regular skipper du Plessis about Kohli’s aggression, which bordered on boorishness, to justify it. However, this kind of aggression felt fake, as the former India skipper admitted. On the other hand, Gambhir’s political secretary criticized Kohli for asking his trolls to abuse Gambhir’s daughters, calling it an unacceptable low.
In the end, the altercation was uncalled for, and both players came out of it smelling like roses. It is crucial for players to show restraint and maintain a level of sportsmanship on and off the field. The ‘Gentlemen’s Game’ is not just about winning but also about respecting the opposition and maintaining the integrity of the sport.
