Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli looked in a jovial mood ahead of the KKR vs RCB game on Sunday. (PTI)
Minutes after they lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders by one run, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir’s words on X may rub as salt on wounds for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“Phenomenal display of character by RCB today,” Gambhir wrote in his post. Following the result in Kolkata, the home side is now second in the points table while RCB languish at the bottom with just one win from seven games.
Gambhir has made it known that when it comes to matches against RCB, he’s always pumped. “One team which I wanted to beat every time and probably in my dreams was RCB,” Gambhir had told Star Sports earlier this season. When prodded by the anchor to divulge the reason, the 2-time IPL winning captain said, “Wanted to. Probably the second-most high-profile team and flamboyant team. The owner and the squad with Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Not won anything, still thought they won everything. Can’t take that kind of an attitude.”
It was last year in the IPL when – as part of the Lucknow Super Giants franchise – Gambhir was involved in the infamous tussle with Virat Kohli after RCB emerged victorious at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow. However, recently the two have been captured in good spirits. The KKR social media handle had even posted a video of the two sharing laughs in a jovial exchange during the pre-match training session at the Eden Gardens.
Kohli himself had cleared the air around the controversy at a recent event. “People are disappointed because I hugged Naveen Ul Haq and then Gauti pa hugged me. Tumhara masala khatam ho gaya toh oo oo kar rahe ho. (‘Masala’ got over for you),” he had said.
On Sunday, though, Gambhir and Co would one up Kohli’s RCB. Having put 222 runs on the board batting first at the Eden Gardens with skipper Shreyas Iyer scoring a fifty, KKR were given a close contest by the visitors as the chase went right down the wire.
Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar scored fifties while cameos from Dinesh Karthik and Karn Sharma, who walloped Mitchell Starc for three maximums, took the game deep. Eventually, KKR’s record-breaking buy in Starc paid off as the Australian ensured that RCB were unable to get 21 runs from the last over.
“It takes a lot off your body and drains you out completely because you go through so many emotions. It’s tough to stay calm but I’m elated. We got two points on the board and that’s all that matters,” KKR skipper Iyer said post-match.
Meanwhile, former RCB skipper Kohli was involved in a heated moment following his dismissal early in the chase off what he thought was a waist-high no-ball.
Get latest updates on IPL 2024 from IPL Points Table to Teams, Schedule, Most Runs and Most Wickets along with live score updates for all matches. Also get Sports news and more cricket updates.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
