During the IPL 2023 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, tensions between Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly came to a head, hinting at underlying discord. This confrontation followed reports of the two unfollowing each other on Instagram. However, following RCB’s victory against DC at the same venue a year later, Ganguly displayed a gesture of respect towards Kohli, marking a potential thaw in their strained relationship.
The friction between Kohli and Ganguly had been evident since 2021 when Virat Kohli was removed from the ODI captaincy, leading to public exchanges between him and the BCCI, then led by Ganguly. Kohli’s subsequent resignation from Test captaincy in January 2022 further fueled speculation about their rift.
During IPL 2023, tensions flared as Kohli exchanged a glaring stare with Ganguly and later bypassed him during the post-match handshake. However, during the reverse fixture at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, the two seemingly reconciled with a handshake.
In the recent encounter, Ganguly’s acknowledgment of Kohli’s performance after RCB’s win was notable. Amidst the post-match handshake ritual, Ganguly removed his cap and congratulated Kohli, who responded with gratitude and a smile. Ganguly then resumed wearing his cap while greeting the rest of the RCB players.
RCB’s victory against DC was their fifth consecutive win in IPL 2024, elevating them to the fifth position in the points table and keeping their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, DC, missing Rishabh Pant due to a suspension by the BCCI, slipped to the sixth spot. The gesture between Kohli and Ganguly suggests a potential reconciliation, signaling a shift in their dynamic and offering hope for a renewed relationship between the two cricketing stalwarts.
Follow for more.
Leave feedback about this