“After the Game Ended…”: Gautam Gambhir Reflects on Naveen ul Haq, Virat Kohli Spat in IPL 2023
Following an IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with Virat Kohli, marking another instance of his fiery on-field demeanor. Known for his assertiveness, Gambhir addressed the incident during a Legends League Cricket match against Sreesanth and shared his perspective on the earlier confrontation with Kohli.
During a podcast on ANI, Gambhir responded to a question about the Naveen Ul Haq controversy, saying, “As a mentor, no one can come and walk over my players. I have got a very different belief. Till the time the game was on, I had no right to interfere, but once the game was over, if someone still gets into a heated argument with my players, I have all the right to defend them.”
The spat between Kohli and Naveen Ul Haq during the IPL 2023 match had caught attention, leading to Gambhir’s intervention as a mentor. Later, during the Cricket World Cup 2023, Kohli and Naveen Ul Haq reconciled, showcasing sportsmanship.
Gambhir’s assertive nature surfaced once again during a recent Legends League match against Sreesanth. The two players engaged in a stare-off, and animated conversations between them added to the on-field drama.
In response to the incident, Legends League Cricket issued a statement on Thursday, expressing their commitment to upholding the spirit of cricket and sportsmanship. The league announced an internal investigation into the code of conduct violation, emphasizing strict action against any misconduct on and off the field, including social media platforms.
“The incident that has been the talk in the cricketing world violates the code of conduct, and necessary action will be taken against all that have violated the very clear rules stated by the league’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee,” said Syed Kirmani, Head of Code of Conduct & Ethics Committee, Legends League Cricket.
The statement reinforces the league’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game and addressing any actions that bring disrepute to the league, the spirit of the game, and the teams involved.