The Indian Premier League (IPL) is known for its high-octane cricket and fierce rivalry. But in the recent clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), there was a heartwarming moment to watch. Ex-foes Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, who have had their fair share of fiery exchanges, were seen shaking hands and hugging each other, marking an apparent truce between the two cricketing legends.
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This gesture of reunion comes after a season marred by tension. Last year, during the RCB vs LSG match, Kohli turned aggressive in a heated argument with Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who plays for Lucknow. Gambhir, the mentor for Lucknow at that time, took a strong objection to the incident and was seen rushing closer to Kohli.
This was not only a solo exchange of words between these two. In 2013, when Gautam Gambhir was captaining KKR and Virat Kohli was leading RCB, the two had similar disciplinary clashes, going at each other before being separated with the help of teammates. These clashes have led many to agree that there is a deep-seated difference between the two.
However, the latest IPL match has provided a glimmer of hope. During the strategic time-out, Kohli and Gambhir were seen shaking hands and embracing each other, putting aside their differences. Whether time healed old wounds or a simple communique that did the trick remains unknown, however, fans were happy to witness this apparent thaw in their relationship.
Watch: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir Reunion
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Moving straight to the match himself, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to field first. Powered by a brilliant unbeaten knock of 83 runs from Kohli, RCB managed to put together a respectable total of 182 runs on the board in their 20 overs.
KKR bowlers Harshit Rana and Andre Russell took two wickets each while veteran Sunil Narine took one wicket. Despite a valiant attempt at a bowling attack, the target of 183 was considered within reach for KKR’s strong batting line-up.
Openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine launched the RCB bowling attack with a hurricane. Acclaimed for his arcane spin, Narine showcased his batting skills with a spectacular 47 runs off 22 balls. Later, Venkatesh Iyer smashed a quickfire fifty off just 30 balls. Their aggressive batting put KKR firmly at the top of the chase.
While various batsmen chipped in with valuable contributions, it turned into the foundation laid by Iyer and Narine that propelled KKR to a modest victory. They chased down the target with 7 wickets and 3 overs to spare. Sunil Narine was deservedly awarded player of the match for his all-round performance consisting of his cheapest bowling spell.
This match between RCB and KKR was not a very interesting chase or top-class batting. It becomes an additional testimony of sportsmanship. The apparent reunion between Kohli and Gambhir offered a welcome change. Cricket, despite everything, is a beautiful sport that brings people together, both on and off the field.
