After an IPL 2023 match, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir nearly fought. It tarnished a low-scoring match in an otherwise record-high-scoring tournament and painted a grim picture of the two, which fans are well aware of.
Why did Kohli and Gambhir fight after the Lucknow Super Giants-Royal Challengers Bangalore match in Lucknow? One must look beyond the April 10 matchup between the same teams to uncover the solution.
Kohli and Gambhir’s Flaring Arguments
Yes, the LSG mentor’s aggressive celebrations and gestures in Bengaluru caused Kohli’s multiple feuds with Naveen ul-Haq, Amit Mishra, and Gambhir on Monday. In RCB’s post-LSG triumph video, Kohli said, “If you can give it, you gotta take it, otherwise don’t give it.”
However, the Gambhir-Kohli feud began earlier. In 2013, Gambhir captained Kolkata Knight Riders and Kohli led RCB. Chinnaswamy’s RCB-KKR match. After Kohli got out, Gambhir appeared to say something to Kohli that upset Virat. On the cricket field, he turned back. Former KKR player Rajat Bhatia separated them.
The Kohli-Gambhir connection, which began with the latter delivering his Player of the Match award to the former for his maiden international century in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Kolkata, took a surprising turn.
After the 2013 IPL, Gambhir and Kohli were at odds. Three years later, in another IPL encounter between RCB and KKR, Gambhir tossed the ball toward Kohli’s end when there was no prospect of a run-out.
The Indian Test team’s activities during their IPL feud were also intriguing. Gambhir’s only hope was red-ball cricket after Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s outstanding top-order performances eliminated him from white-ball squads.
However, when Kohli replaced MS Dhoni as Test captain in December-January of the 2014-15 Australia tour, he left Gambhir out. Kohli’s decision to drop Gambhir clinched the deal, although the left-hander’s declining form was also a factor. Gambhir returned to the Test team under Kohli’s captaincy in the 2016 home series against New Zealand and England but was dropped after two Tests. He never represented India again.
In an interview with Gaurav Kapoor following his retirement, Gambhir said he had nothing against Kohli, but his jubilation after LSG’s triumph over IPL earlier in the competition suggested otherwise. Kohli, who rarely speaks up against Gambhir, is unafraid. He raged against LSG, arguing with Naveen-ul-Haq and Gambhir.
Both were fined 100% for IPL Code of Conduct violations.
Kohli’s brief interaction with LSG opener Kyle Mayers may have sparked the post-match brawl.
RCB’s Glenn Mexwell separated LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and Kohli after the match.
Gambhir then interrupted Mayers’ conversation with Kohli.
After that, Gambhir charged Kohli as LSG players, including injured captain KL Rahul, restrained him. Kohli and Gambhir fought with players from both sides. Gambhir was more animated and was frequently stopped by LSG players and staff from charging Kohli. After shaking hands.
