(PTI Photo)
The cricketing community has been abuzz with the unexpected turn in the longstanding rift between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli, which seemed to surprisingly dissipate during the recently concluded IPL 2024.
The contentious on-field clashes between the two Indian cricket icons during the IPL 2023, particularly when Gambhir served as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), were among the most controversial episodes in cricket. However, in a dramatic twist, Gambhir and Kohli were witnessed sharing a heartfelt embrace during the IPL 2024, igniting discussions about the authenticity of their newfound camaraderie.
This pivotal moment unfolded when Gambhir, now mentoring the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Kohli, the iconic figure of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), crossed paths on the field, leaving spectators astonished by their sudden rapport.
Critics are raising doubts about the abrupt display of camaraderie between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.
However, critics and the media have cast doubt on whether the embrace between Gambhir and Kohli signified a genuine reconciliation of their past conflicts or if it was a strategic move to quell speculations about their relationship and divert attention from other underlying tensions.
The sudden display of unity by the iconic cricketers from Delhi led some to view it as merely a public relations maneuver. Following KKR’s third title triumph in the IPL 2024, Gambhir finally addressed public perceptions, opting not to provide any sensationalism to the media.
Reflecting on the IPL 2024 season, the KKR mentor highlighted Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking opening partnership for SRH, as well as Mayank Yadav’s impressive bowling performance, as his favorite moments. Gambhir also commended Kohli’s remarkable ability to hit sixes. His upcoming appearance will be in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled in the USA and the Caribbean next month.
However, Gambhir’s unexpected praise for RCB’s consecutive six wins to secure a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs has been viewed by some as an attempt to curry favor with Kohli. With Gambhir emerging as a strong contender to replace Rahul Dravid as the next head coach of Team India following KKR’s decade-long trophy drought, this gesture has sparked speculation.
The perception is far away from the reality: Gautam Gambhir on his relationship with Virat Kohli
Gautam Gambhir was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda: “The perception is far away from the reality. My relation with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn’t need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public.”
Earlier, Kohli also reacted to his famous hug with Gambhir in the IPL 2024. The RCB had stated: “People are very disappointed with my behavior. I hugged Naveen-ul-Haq, and then the other day, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) came and hugged me. Your masala is over so you’re booing. We’re not kids anymore.”
Significantly, a source within the BCCI has verified that the discord between Gambhir and Kohli has been resolved. According to the source, despite previous on-field disagreements, they have sustained a positive off-field rapport. They reportedly took the initiative to confront any lingering issues following their fallout last year, ultimately fostering reconciliation and harmony between them.
