CRICKET
IPL nuggets: Kohli and Gambhir clash again after LSG lose
Cricketers Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are known for their aggression.
Unfortunately, that attitude has cost them dearly!
Both have been fined 100 per cent of their match fees for breaching the Code of Conduct during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants held in Lucknow on Monday.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore batter and the Lucknow Super Giants’ Team mentor admitted to the Level 2 offence under Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct during the match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq was also fined 50 per cent of his match fees for breaching the Code of Conduct. Naveen-ul-Haq admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct.
The altercation happened after RCB had bowled LSG out for 108 after scoring 126/9 in 20 overs.
Despite KL Rahul batting through a leg injury in an unsuccessful attempt to take his side to victory, Lucknow lost the plot and ended 18 runs short.
What triggered the incident was the manner in which Kohli celebrated the fall of wickets during Lucknow’s innings with his usual aggressive gestures.
However Kohli was not to blame! In the previous encounter between the two sides last month, LSG team mentor Gambhir had signalled the RCB home crowd to be quiet after LSG’s narrow win.
In a tit for tat, Kohli blew kisses at the Lucknow crowd when their team lost a wicket, but also emulated Gambhir by pressing his finger to his lips emulating the keep silent sign.
After the match ended, the two shook hands and things looked fine.
LSG opener Kyle Mayers walked up to Kohli and started speaking something when Gambhir came and took Mayers away.
A little while after this incident, visuals from the match showed Gautam Gambhir animatedly speaking to Virat Kohli.
Other players, including KL Rahul, and support staff were seen separating the two. Kohli was then seen having a lengthy chat with LSG captain KL Rahul.
Ironically, it was history repeating itself as the two had clashed during IPL in 2013 too.
As Gambhir and other players walked towards cover region to celebrate the dismissal, Kohli instead of trudging back to the pavilion marched towards the KKR players.
He was visibly upset with Gambhir, who seemed to have uttered something after his dismissal. And Gambhir didn’t hold back either as he walked angrily towards Kohli.
Both players charged towards each other, and it took the effort of another Delhi player, Rajat Bhatia, to ensure a possible collision was avoided and the war of words didn’t escalate.