The scenes of a heated exchange reminded of their face-off 10 years ago, when Gambhir was also an active player, leading the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The incident on Monday took place while the players were shaking hands at the completion of the match, when some words were seemingly exchanged between Lucknow bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and Kohli. At this point, Gambhir stepped in to control things, but it soon turned into a Kohli vs Gambhir affair when the latter charged back at the ex-RCB captain.
The Lucknow players then tried to pull Gambhir away, but when the two former India teammates got within touching distance of each other, Kohli looked to be trying to douse the fire with some calm words, but it failed to pacify Gambhir, which is when LSG leg-spinner Amit Mishra stepped in trying to control things.
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IPL 2023: Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir ugly face-off
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<p>Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir added another chapter to their bitter rivalry as they got involved in an ugly face-off after the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants. </p>
<p>Kohli and Gambhir were seen having a heated argument after RCB won the match by 18 runs on Monday night. </p>
<p>Both Kohli and Gambhir were on Tuesday fined 100 per cent of their match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. </p>
<p>The brief interaction between Kohli and LSG opener Kyle Mayers seemed to have triggered the altercation. </p>
<p>While the players were shaking hands after the match, LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and Kohli were seen exchanging words and Glenn Mexwell separated them. </p>
<p>This was followed by Gambhir pulling away Mayers from a chat with Kohli. </p>
<p>Just after that, Gambhir was seen charging towards Kohli even as LSG players, including the injured captain KL Rahul, restraining him. </p>
<p>But eventually, Kohli and Gambhir were involved in a heated argument with players from both sides surrounding them. </p>
<p>Gambhir looked the more animated of the two and was repeatedly held back from charging towards Kohli by the LSG players and support staff. </p>
<p>Initially, Kohli was seen holding Gambhir’s shoulder, but as the heated exchange continued, Amit Mishra, Faf du Plessis and Vijay Dahiya stepped in to separate the duo. </p>
<p>After the altercation, Kohli was also seen speaking to LSG captain Rahul. </p>
<p>The last time when LSG and RCB clashed in Bengaluru in an IPL 2023 game, Gambhir had gestured towards the Bengaluru crowd with a ‘shut up’ sign. </p>
<p>Kohli and Gambhir were also involved in a face-off 10 years ago in the IPL during RCB’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru. </p>
The roots of this latest altercation can possibly be found in this game itself that saw Kohli being quite animated during his team’s bowling stint.
RCB went on to defend 126, but en route to their 18-run victory, Kohli made a ‘silence’ gesture towards the crowd after taking a catch that sent Krunal Pandya back early in the run-chase. It followed an argument between Kohli and Naveen later during the 17th over of LSG innings, which required intervention by the on-field umpires and Mishra.
The incident led to varied reactions on social media.
Not to forget that in the previous match between the two sides earlier this season, LSG won in a thrilling contest off the last ball of the match in Bengaluru. After the game, Gambhir gestured towards the crowd to hush, which possibly turned Monday’s game into a revenge match.
(Scenes from Gambhir’s altercation with Kohli in IPL 2013 – File Photo: TOI/BCCI/IPL)
Watch Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir fined 100 percent of their match fee after heated exchange post LSG-RCB match