Cricket

Virat Kohli's Hugs Spark Reactions: From Disappointment to AppreciationDuring the IPL 2024 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders, a viral photo of Virat Kohli embracing Gautam Gambhir caught the attention of fans. The gesture marked a significant shift from their heated altercation during the IPL 2023 clash between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants, where Gambhir served as mentor.Kohli's subsequent hug with Naveen-ul-Haq, the LSG pacer involved in the previous tiff, further fueled speculation about his intentions. However, Kohli has since expressed his disappointment with the public's reaction to his actions."People are disappointed by my behavior. I hugged Naveen. Then the other day, Gauti bhai came and hugged me. Because your masala got over, you are doing 'wooh wooh'," Kohli remarked at an event.Despite Kohli's perceived disappointment, former Indian cricket stars have lauded his gestures. Ravi Shastri praised the move, while Irfan Pathan, who has played alongside both Gambhir and Kohli, commented, "Gautam Gambhir, the senior guy, actually came forward. Sometimes you cross the line, but when you meet in the future, you meet nicely."Gambhir, known for his competitive spirit, has previously expressed his desire to defeat RCB at every opportunity. "One team which I wanted to beat every time, probably even in my dreams, was RCB. They had a flamboyant team with Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers, but they hadn't won anything. That kind of attitude, I can't take," Gambhir said.Despite the past rivalry, Kohli's recent gestures suggest a willingness to move forward. As the IPL season progresses, it remains to be seen whether the spirit of sportsmanship will prevail over the competitive intensity that defines the tournament.

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.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is set to witness a potential clash of titans as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday. The match will be played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, where the last encounter between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli resulted in an intense on-field battle.Former KKR and RCB star Varun Aaron anticipates that Gambhir's presence in the Knight Riders dugout will ignite Kohli's competitive spirit. "I'm eagerly looking forward to the match-up outside the boundary line," Aaron said. "Gautam Gambhir is going to be right beside the Bengaluru dug-out, and I don't know what's going to happen there. We know Virat likes to have fire in his belly, and if he just looks at the Kolkata dug-out, he's going to get fired up."The rivalry between Gambhir and Kohli reached a boiling point during an RCB vs Lucknow Super Giants match in IPL 2023. Kohli initially clashed with LSG's Naveen-ul-Haq, prompting Gambhir to intervene and engage in a verbal altercation with the former.Gambhir later defended his actions, stating, "It is not about Naveen-ul-Haq. I would have defended any player, that is my job, that is how I am. Why should I not defend my players just because someone has a broadcaster working for him, left right and centre, someone who has more social media presence doesn't have any right to walk over someone."While Kohli and Naveen have since reconciled, the equation between Gambhir and the RCB star remains uncertain. The Friday night match will provide an opportunity to gauge the current dynamics between the two players.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has heaped praise on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer, comparing him to the legendary Shahid Afridi with the added advantage of brains. Sidhu believes Iyer has the potential to excel in the upcoming IPL 2024, especially after being overlooked for the BCCI central contracts.Sidhu lauded Iyer's ability to adapt to different situations while batting, saying, "He reminds me of a better Shahid Afridi. An Afridi with better brains. He adapts to the situation." Sidhu also praised Iyer's tenacity and determination, particularly after recovering from a serious injury.Meanwhile, KKR's former captain Gautam Gambhir has returned as a mentor for the team. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles and five playoffs during his tenure, has been tasked with guiding the team to success once again.KKR has made a significant signing in Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who will be expected to play a crucial role in the power-play and death overs. The team also boasts a strong batting lineup, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer, and Shreyas Iyer.However, KKR's success will depend on the performance of their spinners, such as Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Suyash Sharma. The team will need to utilize the home conditions to provide assistance to their spin bowlers.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, are determined to make a strong comeback in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. After a disappointing performance last year, the team has made significant acquisitions at the mini-auction, including the high-profile signing of Mitchell Starc.KKR's batting lineup boasts a formidable array of power hitters, including Phil Salt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Sunil Narine. The team's spin attack is equally impressive, with Varun Chakravarthy and Mujeeb Ur Rahman providing a potent combination.However, KKR's pace bowling remains a concern. Despite the addition of Mitchell Starc, the team lacks experienced pacers who can consistently deliver in the death overs. The overreliance on Starc could prove to be a weakness if he fails to perform.The return of Gautam Gambhir as mentor and the availability of Shreyas Iyer after his injury layoff are major positives for KKR. Gambhir's leadership and Iyer's captaincy skills will be crucial for the team's success.KKR's finishers, such as Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell, have the potential to be game-changers. However, Russell's recent form has been inconsistent, and Narine's batting has also been underwhelming. The team will need these players to perform at their best to achieve success.

Gautam Gambhir's Stern Message to Kolkata Knight Riders: IPL is About Cricket, Not BollywoodAhead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir has issued a clear and unwavering message to his team: IPL is not about Bollywood or after-parties, but a golden opportunity for young players to showcase their talent in the world's most competitive cricket league.In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Gambhir emphasized the importance of focusing on the game and delivering results on the field. "I made it very clear on Day 1 that IPL for me is serious cricket. It's not about Bollywood, it's not about you, it's not about after-party and stuff. It's about going out there and playing competitive cricket," he stated.Gambhir, who led KKR to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 as captain, believes that the IPL is the closest league to international cricket in terms of intensity and pressure. "It is probably closest to international cricket as compared to any other league and if you want to be known as a successful franchise, you should be able to deliver on the cricket field," he added.KKR failed to reach the play-offs in the previous season, finishing seventh in the standings. Gambhir acknowledged the disappointment and urged the players to work harder for the passionate fanbase of the team. "I think there are very passionate fans. We need to be honest to them. We need to try and probably bring that happiness on their smiles because I've always believed I think the most loyal fans have been fans from Kolkata because they've gone through a lot in the first three years of the IPL," he said.Gambhir's message is a reminder that the IPL is not just about entertainment and glamour, but also about showcasing cricketing talent and delivering results for the fans. As the league enters its 17th season, KKR will be looking to bounce back and prove their worth under Gambhir's guidance.

The IPL 2023 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants witnessed a heated on-field spat between Virat Kohli, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Gautam Gambhir. The incident, which became a major talking point, has been the subject of much discussion and speculation.According to Naveen, the altercation began in Bengaluru during the away match between the two teams. After Avesh Khan's winning runs, Naveen claims that Kohli expressed displeasure with the helmet throw. In the return match in Lucknow, Naveen was sledged by Kohli and Mohammed Siraj despite the game being virtually lost.The spat escalated after the match during the handshake, with Gambhir intervening in support of Naveen. Naveen believes that Gambhir's involvement stemmed from an incident in the previous game where a KKR bowler attempted to run out the non-striker in the final over.Kohli and Gambhir have a history of heated moments in the IPL, including a previous altercation in 2013. Naveen suggests that Gambhir's "shush" gesture was a response to the crowd's reaction to the run-out attempt.Despite the on-field tension, Kohli and Naveen later resolved their differences during the ODI World Cup in October, embracing each other in a show of reconciliation.

Pakistan cricket star Agha Salman has revealed that he sent a text message to Indian batting legend Virat Kohli after a heated on-field exchange between Kohli and former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. This text message later became a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023.In a recent interview with Islamabad United, Salman shared that he sent a direct message (DM) to Kohli after the incident, expressing his respect for the Indian star. While he declined to disclose the exact contents of the message, Salman emphasized that he holds Kohli in high regard."I have so much respect for Virat Kohli," Salman said. "I don't think there is any cricket fan in the world who doesn't respect him. I texted him, I am not going to tell you the complete details but will just tell you the start. It started with 'Virat Bhai'."Salman explained that he sent the message while watching a match with teammates Abdullah Shafique and Usama Mir. He clarified that the message contained no negative or offensive content."There was nothing [negative] in that message that would make people think I said something bad," Salman said.Unbeknownst to Salman, his text message would later become a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023. Before Pakistan's match against India, Kohli visited the Pakistan dressing room, where he was greeted by Salman and other players. During the interaction, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan mentioned Salman's text message to Kohli, leading to a humorous exchange between the two players."I mistakenly told Shadab Khan about texting Virat," Salman said. "You have watched the video of me, Shadab and Virat standing together [during Asia Cup 2023], actually, at that time, he [Shadab] had told him [Virat] that he [I] texted him.""We had a bit of laughter after I told Virat that I texted you this, he then told me he may have missed the message as he receives thousands of messages every day. It was all Shadab's doing [telling Kohli]."Salman's text message to Kohli and the subsequent interaction during the Asia Cup 2023 highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect between the two players, despite their on-field rivalry.

Gautam Gambhir Steps Down from Political Duties to Focus on CricketFormer Indian cricketer and current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Gautam Gambhir has requested party president J.P. Nadda to relieve him of his political responsibilities. This decision comes as Gambhir prepares to take on a new role in the upcoming cricket season.Gambhir, who represents the East Delhi constituency in Parliament, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the opportunity to serve the people. He stated that he had made the request to focus on his upcoming cricket commitments.Gambhir's decision to step down from politics marks a significant shift in his career. He joined the BJP in March 2019 and was elected to the Lok Sabha in the subsequent general election. During his tenure as an MP, Gambhir has been actively involved in various initiatives, including promoting sports and education.However, Gambhir's passion for cricket has remained strong. He has recently returned to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise as its mentor ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Gambhir previously served as mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants.Gambhir's decision to prioritize cricket over politics has been met with mixed reactions. Some have expressed disappointment, while others have praised his commitment to his sport. Regardless of the differing opinions, Gambhir's decision is a testament to his unwavering passion for cricket.As Gambhir embarks on this new chapter in his career, it remains to be seen how he will balance his cricket commitments with his political aspirations. However, one thing is certain: his love for the game of cricket will continue to drive him forward.