The animosity between former RCB captain Kohli and LSG mentor Gambhir dates back to 2013 when, as Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain, Gambhir took on Kohli in an aggressive on-field exchange during the IPL.
Here’s how current and former players reacted to the ugly incident during the post-match talk shows:
ANIL KUMBLE
“A lot of emotions do go in but you should not be displaying such emotions openly…You may disagree on field, you may have a go at the opposition, you may say things on the field in the heat of the moment. But once the game is over, you just need to shake hands and doff your hat, not to the player but to the game, because that’s something you need to respect. I don’t know what was said, some things may have been personal. That’s something you don’t want on the cricket field. Both with Virat, Gautam and whoever was involved, it wasn’t the nicest thing to see.
ROBIN UTHAPPA
“Those handshakes were intense one and it came down to a few words after the game. It’s a hard one to watch to be honest and it is unbecoming for the game. I know both are fiery characters as Gautam Gambhir wears his heart on his sleeve and Virat Kohli is the same.”
MURALI KARTIK
“This has been going on for 10 years and I suppose nobody allows it to die down, how it (the flame) is fanned, but whatever, it is not good.”
MANOJ TIWARY
“The BCCI should step in during such situations. You are ambassadors of the country and the game. Don’t react that way. It is a worldwide popular tournament, which many people see, especially youngsters…who want to grow up watching players like Virat.”
RCB CAPTAIN FAF DU PLESSIS
“That’s the best version of Virat, isn’t it?. That’s when he’s at his best….My job is to keep things calm on the field, which I thought we did really well.”
MIKE HESSON, RCB’s DIRECTOR OF CRICKET OPERATIONS
“I guess after the last match here, at the Chinnaswamy (Stadium) where we lost off the last ball, it always felt like we were desperate to get this one. I guess you probably saw a little bit of that boil over from time to time.”