Cricket

Former Indian cricketer and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has expressed his amusement over his team's low ranking in the Fair Play award standings. During an appearance on spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, Gambhir humorously attributed KKR's poor position to his presence in the dugout.Known for his aggressive on-field demeanor, Gambhir joked that KKR's low rank was a result of his fiery nature. "Honestly, I thought we would be at the top of the Fair Play Award table because of what happened in Chinnaswamy [the hug between him and Virat Kohli]. There is no competition; irrespective of where we are on the points table, we should be at the top of the fair play award. But still, we are at the bottom," Gambhir said.Gambhir's comments stem from his on-field hug with Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, with whom he has had several verbal spats throughout his career. The gesture of reconciliation was widely praised as a sign of sportsmanship.However, Gambhir's humor belies a deeper concern. He questioned the criteria used to determine the Fair Play standings, suggesting that KKR had not engaged in any unsportsmanlike conduct. "Someone sent me a message a couple of days back: 'KKR is where KKR is at the moment.' I said, yeah. In the top, no. In fair play, at number 10 (currently number nine). Is there a trophy? I said, no. And I still do not understand. We played pretty fair. What wrong have we done in the last five games? I do not think so we have done anything wrong. And still, we are number 10. Probably it is just because I am sitting in that dugout," Gambhir said.KKR is set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 match at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. The game promises to be a high-scoring affair, with both teams known for their explosive batting line-ups. KKR finished the league stage at the top with nine wins, three losses, and two no results, totaling 20 points. SRH, on the other hand, finished second with eight wins, five losses, and one no result, giving them 17 points.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has sparked a debate on the concept of the "Spirit of Cricket" after expressing his preference for adhering to the rules over the spirit of the game. Shastri's comments came during a discussion on veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel.Shastri's remarks stem from incidents during India's Test series in England in 2021, where India secured a historic victory at Lord's in the second Test. One notable incident involved England's James Anderson engaging in a heated argument with Indian players, particularly Jasprit Bumrah.During the match, Bumrah delivered a series of bouncers to Anderson, resulting in him being struck on the helmet, ribs, and left hand. This led to a tense exchange of words between the players involved.Reminiscing on the argument, Shastri said, "What is wrong with that? You got a bat in your hand. There is no rule that tail-enders you should not (bounce). Then declare the innings, no? If it gets too hot in the kitchen and you do not want to be there, then stay inside, be clear, your fingers are fine, everything is fine, and you can bowl as much as you want so that you are not injured."Shastri's comments have reignited the debate on the "Spirit of Cricket," which has garnered significant attention recently, particularly concerning incidents of batters being run out at the non-striker's end. Although this mode of dismissal is entirely legal within the rules of the game, it has been viewed by many experts and fans as going against the spirit of cricket.One notable incident involved Ashwin, who famously dismissed England batter Jos Buttler in a similar manner during an IPL game. Ashwin's action attracted criticism, with many fans and experts calling for bowlers to warn the non-striker before executing such a dismissal.Several other players, including Indian women's cricketer Deepti Sharma, have also employed this mode of dismissal, resulting in criticism from ex-cricketers and fans alike. Critics argue that the 'spirit of cricket' should take precedence over strict adherence to the rules in such cases.Shastri, however, believes that rules should take precedence over the spirit of the game. "Forget spirit. I believe in rules. You (Ashwin) mankaded a guy, it rules, there's a rule book, observe the damn rules. A guy running two steps ahead, 'It's not fair, you should warn me.' For what warn? The rule says you're cheating. I hate warnings. I'll take the bails off straightaway. On your bike now! Rule book page 33. Don't whinge and moan after the event. It's there. It is the same for both teams," the 61-year-old added.Shastri's comments have sparked a heated debate among cricket fans and experts, with some supporting his stance on prioritizing rules and others advocating for the preservation of the "Spirit of Cricket."

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir's Heartwarming Embrace at IPL 2024 Sparks Fairplay ApplauseIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, former rivals Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir shared a warm embrace during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. The moment, captured by the official broadcasters, drew widespread praise from cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.Gavaskar, commentating alongside Shastri, remarked that the embrace deserved a fairplay award, while Shastri quipped that it warranted an Oscar. The gesture marked a significant departure from the heated exchanges between the duo on the field in the past.During the IPL 2023 season, Gambhir, then serving as mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), engaged in a verbal altercation with Kohli following a heated exchange between Kohli and LSG pacer Naveen Ul Haq. However, at IPL 2024, the hatchet seemed to have been buried as Kohli and Gambhir shook hands and shared a smile during the strategic timeout.The embrace between the two former India captains was widely shared on social media, with fans and experts alike applauding their display of sportsmanship. It served as a reminder that even in the heat of competition, fairplay and respect should prevail.The moment also highlighted the transformative power of time and the ability of individuals to move beyond past differences. Kohli and Gambhir's embrace symbolized the spirit of reconciliation and the importance of putting aside grudges for the greater good of the game.