Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The controversy during match 43 of the IPL 2023 between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow doesn’t seem to end as the entire cricketing fraternity is condemning the verbal duel between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli. Tempers flared on the ground when the two teams were exchanging pleasantries after RCB’s 18-run win and Kohli and Gambhir had a furious face-off.
The IPL governing body was quick to act and fined both the parties involved 100% of their match fee for breaching Article 2.21 of IPL’s code of conduct. With fans making assumptions on their own all over the world as to what led to the two former India teammates having a go at each other, an eye-witness has given his account of what actually transpired on the field.
“You saw on TV that Mayers and Virat were walking side by side for a few metres post match. Mayers asked Kohli why was he constantly abusing them and Virat, in turn, questioned why was he (Mayers) ‘staring’ at him? Before that (Amit) Mishra had complained to umpire about Virat constantly abusing Naveen (ul-Haq), who is a No. 10 batter,” an eyewitness, who was in one of the team dugouts, was quoted as saying by Economic Times.
“Gautam, sensing that things could turn ugly, pulled Mayers and told him not to have a conversation, when Virat made a comment. The heated exchange that followed seemed a bit juvenile,” he said.
“Gautam asked ‘Kya bol raha hain bol’ (What were you saying?) and Virat replied, ‘Maine aapko kuch bola hi naahin, aap kyon ghus rahein ho’ (Why are you coming in between when I haven’t told you anything).
“Gautam responded, ‘Tuney agar mere player ko bola hai, matlab tune meri family ko gaali diya hai. (You abused my player and that’s like abusing my family) and Virat’s reply was, ‘Toh aap apne family ko sambhal ke rakhiye’. (Then you take care of your family).
“Gambhir’s final reply before they were separated was, ‘Toh ab tu mujhe sikhayega…’ (So now I have to learn from you…).”
Meanwhile, in a video shared by RCB on their official social media accounts which has the players’ reaction after RCB’s win, Kohli can be heard saying, “That’s a sweet win boys. A sweet win. If you can give it, you got to take it. Otherwise, don’t give it.”
Kohli was seen charged up during the second innings of the game celebrating every wicket quite animatedly as RCB registered their fifth win of the season. He even silenced the crowd in celebration after taking a catch to dismiss Krunal Pandya which is reportedly being termed as a reply to Gambhir made a similar gesture after LSG’s thrilling win over RC in their earlier clash of the season.
Notably, Kohli and Gambhir were also seen at loggerheads with each other earlier during RCB vs KKR game in IPL 2013. Gambhir, who was captaining the KKR side back then, had said something to Kohli after the latter got dismissed during the match. The comment irked the RCB captain and the duo were seen in another heated face-off before being separated by Manoj Tiwary.