The much-anticipated IPL 2023 encounter between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Royal Challengers Bangalore held on Monday in Lucknow was marred by a heated exchange between RCB star batsman Virat Kohli and LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir.
As the LSG wickets fell, Kohli was visibly animated and expressive throughout the match, which led to an argument between the two.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time the two teams faced off against each other. In their previous clash in Bengaluru, Gambhir had gestured towards the Bengaluru crowd, and it is unclear whether Kohli’s reactions were in response to that.
After the match, Kohli and Gambhir shook hands, but a little while later, things seemed to have escalated. Other players and support staff intervened and separated the two. Soon after, Kohli was seen having a lengthy chat with LSG captain KL Rahul, which could have been a way to diffuse the tension between the two sides.
It’s unfortunate that such incidents occur on the cricket field, but it’s a testament to the passion and competitive spirit of the players involved. It’s important for players to show respect to each other, regardless of the outcome of the match, and to remember that it’s just a game in the end.
Watch: Argument between Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir
RCB secured an 18-run victory
Royal Challengers Bangalore secured an 18-run victory over the Lucknow Super Giants. The LSG bowlers had done an excellent job of restricting RCB to 126 for nine. In response, the hosts had a terrible start and were reeling at 27 for four and later at 65 for six in the 11th over. They were eventually all out for 108 in 19.5 overs.
RCB captain Faf du Plessis played a crucial knock of 44 off 40 balls after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, took 30 deliveries to score 31 runs at the top of the order. Naveen-ul-Haq was the most successful bowler for LSG, taking three wickets for 30 runs in his four overs. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also had an impressive outing, finishing with figures of 2/21 in his full quota of four overs. Amit Mishra contributed two wickets to the LSG bowling attack, while Krunal Pandya bowled economically to end with figures of 0/21 in four overs.
Despite LSG’s spirited bowling effort, they failed to build a substantial partnership while chasing the modest target. Josh Hazlewood and Karn Sharma were the pick of the bowlers for RCB, taking two wickets apiece for just 15 and 20 runs, respectively. The victory meant that RCB moved up to the top of the IPL points table, while LSG slipped down to the fifth position.
The IPL has always been known for its unpredictable nature, and this match was no exception. While RCB emerged victorious, the match provided ample excitement and entertainment for cricket fans. It is now up to the Lucknow Super Giants to regroup and come back stronger in their next encounter.
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