The rivalry between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli is one of the most infamous in Indian cricket history. These two Delhi boys were once friends and even played together for India, but their relationship has soured over the years. Here are three times when these two clashed on the field.
3. The first clash (2013)
The first clash happened during an IPL game in 2013 when Gambhir was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, and Kohli was leading Royal Challengers Bangalore. After Kohli was dismissed, Gambhir appeared to say something to him, which Kohli didn’t appreciate. The exchange grew heated, and their teammate Rajat Bhatia had to intervene to calm the situation down.
2. The shushing starts (2023)
Fast forward to 2023, and Gambhir, now a mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants, and Kohli, the RCB captain, faced off again. This time, it was Gambhir who started the feud by gesturing at the crowd with a finger on his lips after a close win. After Lucknow won at home two weeks later, Kohli repeated the gesture. However, after the match, the two were seen talking and hugging, and all seemed peaceful.
1. Fiery outburst (2023)
The third clash happened during the return leg between LSG and RCB when tempers flared again. Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq continued their on-field exchange after the match, and when LSG’s Kyle Mayers approached Kohli, Gambhir intervened and took his player away. Soon after, Kohli and Gambhir got into a furious argument of their own and needed to be separated by others around them.
The Gambhir-Kohli rivalry has been going on for a long time, and it’s not surprising given their personalities. Gambhir is known for his aggressive nature, both on and off the field, while Kohli is equally combative and never shies away from a confrontation. However, it’s worth noting that these two have a history and have played together for India, so it’s possible that their feud is fueled by a personal grudge rather than just a professional rivalry.