Monday in IPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Lucknow Super Giants. However, post-match, RCB’s Virat Kohli and LSG’s Gautam Gambhir engaged in a verbal battle, resulting in fines for both players. Observe it here.
After the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India, on Monday, star India batter Virat Kohli and former opener Gautam Gambhir engaged in an ugly face-off.
Monday night, after the Bengaluru-based team won the contest by 18 runs, batting stalwart Kohli and LSG’s coach Gambhir argued. Tuesday, both were fined 100% of their match fees for violating the IPL Code of Conduct. The fleeting interaction between Kohli, who appeared more animated during RCB’s fielding innings, and LSG opener Kyle Mayers led to the altercation.
As the players clasped hands after the game, LSG’s Naveen-ul-Haq and RCB’s Kohli were overheard exchanging words; RCB’s Glenn Maxwell separated them. It was then followed by Gambhir separating Mayers from his conversation with Kohli. After that, Gambhir was observed charging at Kohli while LSG players, including the injured captain KL Rahul, attempted to restrain him. Players from both sides surrounded Kohli and Gambhir as they engaged in a heated argument.
Gambhir appeared to be the more animated of the two, and LSG players and support personnel repeatedly prevented him from charging Kohli. It was following their handshake. Initially, Kohli was seen holding Gambhir’s shoulder, but as the heated exchange continued, Delhi-natives Amit Mishra, Faf du Plessis, and Vijay Dahiya moved in to separate the two.
Kohli was also seen speaking to LSG captain Rahul after the altercation. Kohli and Gambhir are former India colleagues who played on the Delhi state team together, but they have a history of conflict. The last time LSG and RCB played in Bengaluru during the IPL 2023, Gambhir made a’shut up’ gesture towards the Bengaluru throng.
They also clashed ten years ago in Bengaluru during an IPL match between RCB and the two-time defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). According to the IPL, Kohli and Gambhir acknowledged to violating the IPL Code of Conduct. In addition, LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq was fined fifty percent of his match fee.
“The LSG coach Gautam Gambhir was fined one hundred percent of his match fee for violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Mr. Gambhir has confessed to the Level 2 violation of Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct, according to the statement.
“RCB batter Virat Kohli was fined 100% of his match fee for violating the IPL Code of Conduct during the IPL 2023 match against LSG.” Mr. Kohli acknowledged to committing the Level 2 infraction outlined in Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct. Naveen-ul-Haq was fined fifty percent of his match expenses for violating the IPL Code of Conduct during his IPL 2023 match against RCB. Mr. Naveen-ul-Haq confessed to the Level 1 violation of Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct,” the statement concluded.