The on-field relationship between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli has been extensively discussed, especially during their clashes in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where Gambhir coached Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Kohli played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
However, in the recent IPL edition, Gambhir, now the mentor of KKR, and Kohli seemingly resolved any issues as they “hugged it out.” Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and with guidance from Gambhir, KKR clinched their third IPL title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Following this success, Gambhir emerged as a potential candidate for the head coach position of the Indian men’s cricket team, possibly replacing Rahul Dravid after the 2024 T20 World Cup. In a recent interview, Gambhir discussed his relationship with Kohli. He stated:
“The perception is far away from the reality. My relation with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn’t need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to public,” Gambhir told Sportskeeda.
Earlier, Kohli had recalled his ‘viral’ hug with: “People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) came and hugged me. Your masala is over so you’re booing. We’re not kids anymore.”
The on-field conflicts between Gambhir and Kohli are widely known, but it appears that the two have put their past rivalry behind them. They were observed embracing each other after a match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and a video of their animated conversation gained traction on social media.
The rift between Gambhir and Kohli has been resolved: BCCI insider
“If people are talking about Gambhir’s friction with Virat Kohli, it can be confirmed that the two have always got along well off the field,” the source added. “Even after the bust-up during an IPL match last year, the two were made to sit down and sort out any issue if they indeed had one.”
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