"If I Have To Be Aggressive...": What Gautam Gambhir Had Told NDTV About Facing Virat Kohli

03.05.2023 - 02:45 sports.ndtv.com

Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir and their on-field altercation - this subject has been the topic of intense discussion since Monday night.

Things turned ugly after an IPL 2023 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants with Kohli and Gambhir being at the centre of it.

The two could be seen being involved in a heated exchange after the game ended. However, this was not first time that the two stars clashed on the field.

At the 2013 and 2016 IPLs, when Gambhir played for Kolkata Knight Riders, the two had altercations. In an interview to NDTV, Gambhir gave a detailed answer on his spat with Kohli and how it was nothing personal. "I just want to make one thing clear.

cricket Lucknow Super Giants Virat Kohli Gautam Gambhir Kolkata Bangalore

The connection between Gautam Gambhir and Kolkata Knight Riders go way back in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India opener was a massive asset for the franchise in multiple seasons and he led them to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. However, the crowd showed no mercy to the present Lucknow Super Giants mentor as they chanted Virat Kohli's name as a taunt following the duo's on-field spat during the ongoing tournament. Gambhir, whose LSG side were able to qualify for the playoffs with a narrow win over KKR, gestured the crowd in lower the volume before breaking into a smile himself.

Targeted With 'Virat Kohli' Chants, Naveen-ul-Haq's Gautam Gambhir-Like Gesture For Eden Gardens Crowd

Virat Kohli's spat with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has been one of the highlights of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite the incident taking place at the start of this month, Naveen is being mocked by rival fans across the country. During the match between LSG and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Saturday, Naveen was once again targeted by fans with raucous "Kohli" chants. However, instead of taking pressure, Naveen also indulged in an exchange with KKR fans.

IPL 2023 Playoffs: How Virat Kohli's RCB Can Face Gautam Gambhir's LSG For 3rd Time This Season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season is nearing its business end, with franchises looking to put in error-free performances in order to end the league stage of the campaign in the top 4 spots. So far, defending champions Gujarat Titans are the only ones who have qualified for the next round while a total of seven teams are competing for the three remaining spots. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants are two of those teams who are still in the fray.

LSG's Tweet On RCB's Win Over RR Triggers Epic Gautam Gambhir-Virat Kohli Memes

Royal Challengers Bangalore put in arguably their finest performance of the season, bundling out Rajasthan Royals for just 59 runs while defending their total of 171 in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match. In what was a must-win battle for both sides, the resounding victory gave RCB a big push in their hopes of a top-four finish. As fans went ga-ga over the Bengaluru franchise's performance against the Rajasthan, even Lucknow Super Giants took to Twitter to hail Faf du Plessis & Co. As a result, Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir memes flooded the internet.

Targeted By Hyderabad Crowd With Virat Kohli Chants, Gautam Gambhir Trends On Twitter

The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season won't just be remembered for Nicholas Pooran's heroic batting at the death but also for the home crowd's unruly behaviour. The match encountered plenty of trouble from fans over certain incidents that took place on the field. However, even when there were no triggers, fans started to chant the name of Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Virat Kohli, especially when LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir was around. Even on social media platform Twitter, Gambhir became one of the top trends during and after the match.

"Massive Personalities...": England Great On Why Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir Heated Exchange Was 'Brilliant'

Apart from the high-octane action on the field in the IPL 2023, one major talking point in the cash-rich league has been the altercations between stars of various teams. Be it Royal Challengers Bangalore star Virat Kohli's on-field heated exchange with Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir and pacer Naveen-ul-Haq. Or, RCB star pacer Mohammed Siraj's angry words with Delhi Capitals' Phil Salt and David Warner. The incidents seem to be too many. And England great Graeme Swann feels it is great for the IPL.