The match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Ekana Stadium Lucknow on May 1 was an eventful one, with plenty of excitement and controversy. Virat Kohli and Naveen-Ul-Haq engaged in several verbal altercations during the match, and afterwards, there was a physical altercation between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, who serves as LSG’s mentor.
This incident is not the first time that Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir have clashed. In 2013, the two cricketers were on opposing teams, with Gambhir leading the Kolkata Knight Riders and Virat captaining the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Following the incident, several experienced cricketers shared their opinions on social media and expressed their willingness to mediate and help resolve the issues between the two players.
Harbhajan Singh, a former Indian spinner and current Member of Parliament, also weighed in on the recent incident involving Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir.
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Harbhajan admitted that he had been involved in a similar altercation with former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth back in 2008 and expressed his regret over the incident.
Harbhajan emphasized that such incidents have a negative impact on the overall mood surrounding the game and called for players to exercise restraint and conduct themselves with dignity and respect on and off the field. He reflected on his own experience and stated that even after 15 years, he still feels ashamed of what happened and wishes he had handled the situation differently.
Through his message, Harbhajan highlighted the importance of sportsmanship and urged players to set a positive example for the next generation of cricketers.
Harbhajan Singh, in addition to sharing his thoughts on the incident, expressed his willingness to mediate and help resolve the tensions between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. He added that as a former cricketer, he understands the emotions that players go through during a game but urged them to maintain their composure and respect each other.
Harbhajan also shared his desire to see both Kohli and Gambhir hug each other and put the past behind them. He emphasized that in the larger scheme of things, cricket is just a game and that relationships and respect for one another should always take precedence.
“I’ll make sure Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir meet and hug each other after the IPL. The fight will end,” said the former India World Cup winner.