In the IPL 2024 season, fans witnessed a heartwarming moment when Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir shared a hug and exchanged words, marking a notable shift from their heated verbal spat during the IPL 2023 season. In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, Gambhir addressed his relationship with the star batter, emphasizing mutual respect.
Gambhir, who is the coach of KKR and a potential candidate for Team India’s head coach, stated that both he and Kohli have the right to express themselves and support their teams. He added that their relationship is not for public consumption. “The perception is far from reality. My relationship 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 relationship is not to give masala to the public.”
Earlier this year, Kohli also spoke about the hug at a PUMA event, saying, “People are very disappointed with my behavior. I hugged Naveen, 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.”
The spat in IPL 2023 saw Kohli getting angry at Lucknow Super Giants player Naveen-ul-Haq, with Gambhir stepping in and having a heated exchange with Kohli. This wasn’t the first time the two players clashed on the field; they’ve had several confrontations in previous IPL seasons.
However, the recent display of camaraderie between Kohli and Gambhir signals a new chapter, showing that sportsmanship can prevail over past differences.
Discussion about this post