Former India great Kapil Dev came up with advice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India regarding the heated exchange between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). During the IPL 2023 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli was involved in a verbal spat with pacer Naveen-ul-Haq. They were involved in another war of words during the customary handshake after the end of the game.
The matter was so serious that LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir also got emerged in a spat with Virat Kohli. Pointing out that incident, Kapil Dev requested the BCCI to develop players to become decent citizens.
“They (BCCI) have to groom players to be good citizens also. What happened between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in the IPL, it was painful for me," Kapil said.
The former World Cup-winning skipper also added that he was shocked to see the on-field behavior of Gambhir and Kohli as both are his two most important people.
“My two most important people―Virat Kohli, one of the top batters in the world; Gambhir is now a member of Parliament―how can they behave in such a manner? But sportsmen do lose their mind, from Pelé to Don Bradman to all people," the former world champion further added during an interview with The Week.
After all the drama that transpired during the cash-rich league, BCCI imposed 100% fine of the match fees on both Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Meanwhile, Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has been fined 50% of his match fee.
"I have had fights on the cricket field before too but I have always kept that fight or argument limited to the cricket field only. There was an argument between two individuals that should stay on the field and cross the boundary. A lot of people said a lot of things for TRP, and many called for interviews. Anything that happens between two people does not need to be clarified. It happened on the cricket field and not off the field," Gambhir told News18 India.