Throwback: When Gautam Gambhir Offered His Man Of The Match Award To Young Virat Kohli — WATCH
This is not the first time when Gambhir and Kohli were spotted having a verbal spat as they did the same in IPL 2023 and 2016 editions.
Two greats of Indian cricket Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir were involved in a heated argument after Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2023 match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday.
While defending a total of 126/9, RCB restricted Lucknow to just 108 runs and took revenge for the loss they suffered in the first leg of the IPL 2023. It was not the game that people talked about rather it was the war of words between RCB batter Kohli and LSG mentor Gambhir that became the highlight of the game. This is not the first time when Gambhir and Kohli were spotted having a verbal spat as they did the same in IPL 2023 and 2016 editions.
But their relationship was not as bad in the beginning as when Kohli made his debut for India, Gambhir was already playing there and the two of them shared a cordial relationship. Their bonding was so strong that Gambhir once gave his Man-of-the-Match award to Kohli, who scored his maiden century and helped India win the match by seven wickets against Sri Lanka in an ODI match at the Eden Gardens.
In 2009, Gautam Gambhir gave his MOM award to Virat Kohli for his maiden 💯. It’s a priceless moment for any young player. But #ViratKohli hate GG. Virat should remembered what GG has done for him and should respect GG. #RCBvLSG #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/4aRbYUmdlS
— Afrid Mahmud Rifat 🇧🇩 (@amr_801) May 2, 2023
Earlier, after Gambhir-Kohli's fight in the IPL 2023, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri spoke about the matter.
"I think the penny will drop in a day or two. And they will realise that this could have been handled lot better. Both play for the same state and they have played enough cricket. Gautam is a double World Cup winner, Virat is an icon. Both come from Delhi. I think the best thing would be to sit them both down and put an end to it. Once and for all," Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.
"Whoever does it, the sooner the better, because you don't want this to spill off. Carrying on, the next time they meet again there are words exchanged and one thing leads to another. The sooner the better. If I have to do it (mediate between the two stars), so be it," the cricketer-turned-commentator added.