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| Why are Pakistani fans remembering Shahid Afridi in the 'battle' of Kohli, Gambhir, and Naveen in the IPL |
The scenes at the end of the IPL match played in Lucknow yesterday were similar to the post-match fight in any local street ground.
In the middle of the fight, other people come to the rescue but here the superstars of Indian cricket were face to face and the cameras were filming the whole situation.
Clips of Delhi-based cricketers Virat Kohli and Gautham Gambhir's verbal altercation after last night's match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Supergiants are currently trending on social media in both India and Pakistan.
Apparently, the heat started with an argument between Virat Kohli and Afghan fast bowler Naveen Haq during the match, but Virat Kohli's gesture of keeping his finger on his lips while pointing to the fans and remaining silent shows that his ''battle' started with a match between the two teams on April 10 in Bangalore.
Be it the Indian team or the Royal Challengers Bangalore, whenever Virat Kohli is on the field, the camera is usually focused on his facial expressions.
Virat Kohli's emotional antics whenever he gets out add to the highlights package and if ever he gets into a literal war with a player from the opposing team, then the match becomes even more interesting for the TV fans. goes
The same has been the case with Gautham Gambhir who is now a part of the Lucknow Supergiants team as a coach. The video of his fight with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal is still often seen on social media.
He had an argument with Virat Kohli in an IPL match ten years ago in the year 2013 and he has also criticized MS Dhoni in his interviews after retirement.
Due to the strict rules and regulations in the game of cricket, in the past few years, open brawls between players are rarely seen, but such incidents still happen in T20 leagues.
In such a case, the incident that happened last night has made the most interesting tournament of IPL more interesting this time. Let us examine in detail how things have reached this point.
A crucial and low-scoring match in which the temperature started to rise with time
The match played in Lucknow last night was crucial for both teams to reach the next round of the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and batted first and could score only 126 runs in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, the entire Lucknow team was all out for just 108 runs.
During this match, Virat Kohli scored 31 runs off 30 balls, but he was very excited while fielding and was seen gesturing towards the Lucknow Supergiants dugout every time he got out, including a silencer by putting his finger on his lips. The gesture was also included.
It may be noted that a similar gesture was made by Gautham Gambhir after the match between the two teams at the Chinswamy Cricket Stadium in Bangalore last month. Lucknow won that match by one wicket after a thrilling contest.
Social media users believe that Virat Kohli's exuberant style last night was in response to Gambhir's antics.
However, things started to get worse last night when the duo of Amit Mishra and Naveen ul Haq came to the crease. Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq had a bitter exchange during this time. It is difficult to tell what happened during that time, but the umpire had to intervene to save the middle.
Naveen-ul-Haq got out and reached the pavilion and then when the last wicket of Amit Mishra fell, Virat Kohli went ahead to shake hands with the opposing team. A bitter exchange ensued and Maxwell came in between and had to separate the two.
In the video that follows, Gotham Gubmhir makes an entry. Lucknow's Kyle Meyers is having a conversation with Virat Kohli about what appears to be a casual discussion when Gambhir grabs Meyers by the arm and takes him aside and then seems to say something angry.
Hereafter some time Gambhir and Virat Kohli point at each other and say something angry and then get very close.
Commentator and former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri is heard saying here that there was no need for it. The match is over, the result has come, what to say now if two points have been obtained.
"It was a low-scoring match with very high emotions, it should have been left at the ground."
Scenes of conversation between Lucknow captain KL Rahul and Virat Kohli can also be seen after the match. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is also seen mentioning the gesture by placing his finger on his lips.
During the conversation, Naveen-ul-Haq is called by Rahul but Naveen refuses to go to him, while Kohli is seen saying something to him again.
Echoes of Shahid Afridi scolding Naveen and 'fighting' with Gambhir
While all these clips are being shared on social media, people are seen favoring one side and criticizing the other.
Consumers in India have been criticizing Virat Kohli for adopting an overly aggressive style while some also believe that a coach should not interfere in players' fights.
However, Paksta about this cricket fans are remembering former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi.
It should be remembered that in the year 2007, there was a bitter conversation between former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and Pakistan cricket team's all-rounder Shahid Afridi at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, India.
After that, there has been a significant debate between the two on Twitter after retirement. Gambhir is a part of the Indian ruling party BJP while Shahid Afridi is known as an important social figure in Pakistan.
Similarly, last year in the Lanka Premier League, there was a verbal rematch between Mohammad Amir and Naveen Haq. Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir were part of the same team during this time and in a video after the match, Shahid Afridi can be seen scolding Naveen-ul-Haq.
User Mahim Geelani says Shahid Afridi will be very happy today, Naveen ul Haq and Gautham Gambhir always do.
Simran Randhawa says that 'Virat's aggressive style was fine till the 15th over but after that, it was not appropriate. He targeted Naveen without any reason. This is not a sportsman spirit.
Talking about the same, an Indian user Ash said that 'Virat Kohli showed rudeness while shaking hands with Naveen, he should not have done that.'
However, a user criticized Naveen and said that 'Naveen is new blood, he should have respected Virat Kohli, he has also fought with Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir for no reason.'
Well, the debate will continue as to who was at fault and who was not, but Virat Kohli and Naveen Haq have been fined 100% match fee while Gautham Gambhir has been fined 50% match fee.
Whether this 'battle' will be seen in the IPL in the coming days or not, surely all the eyes of the fans will be here.