Kohli-Gambhir spat is a lesson for youngsters

The terrible bust-up between former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli was in typical ‘Delhi style’ and was waiting to happen. Both don’t believe in pulling punches and have been carrying their own baggage of mutual dislike for each other.

Of course as every controversy is -- Views are divided among those who were present after the IPL game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants on Monday night, when the altercation took place between the two World Cup-winning players. Some found it juvenile, a few others liked the spicy encounter and the idea of intense rivalry, while firm believers of the ‘Gentlemen’s Game’ thought it could have been avoided. It was a ‘deja vu’ moment for everyone who had seen the duo nearly come to blows in 2013, when Kolkata Knight Riders were playing Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Both have a bit of a complicated relationship. Gambhir is not the easiest person to handle. He had no business to make that finger on lips gesture to the crowd at Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru years ago, which swears by Virat’s name. Now in Lucknow, Virat got a chance to give it back and he did. He knows that Gautam has been a staunch critic of his captaincy and he was in no mood to step back.

As Kohli rightly put it, “You got to take it, otherwise don’t give it.” LSG mentor Gambhir was fighting for one of the players— Naveen-ul-Haq from Afghanistan. Virat and Naveen had a verbal spat on the ground and during the face-off, there was liberal use of north Indian profanities which sound similar to the name of English cricketer ‘Ben Stokes’. And Naveen obviously got offended, and so did Amit Mishra (who was at the nonstriker end).

This is totally uncalled-for as RCB had the match in their pocket. An overreaction from Virat was not required. But then again, he’s who he is…that’s what gets the best out of him. Why did Gambhir get into something in which players were involved? Old rivalry or jealousy? You could say both. Coaches have no business meddling in what happens in the middle.

There are a lot of pundits who believe and rightly so that showing aggression on the ground is fine but coaches shouldn’t get involved. What goes on the field, stays on the field. And Gambhir shouldn’t have got into this one. It’s between the players to sort it out, not coaches. Gambhir, who’s also a BJP MP from New Delhi, should mind his own business and control his actions and words. People get mature with age, but Gambhir is...let’s leave that to your imagination. And having a grudge against a champion player is really not cool.