Sunil Gavaskar Urges Suspension for Kohli, Gambhir After Brawl

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a fine equal to 100% of their match fees on both Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. This happened following their involvement in a heated exchange. Former Indian cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar believes that incidents of this nature should not occur repeatedly. Gavaskar recommended that severe penalties, such as suspension for a few games should be imposed on those who are found guilty.

Match 43 of the IPL 2023 was played between RCB and LSG at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 1. RCB successfully defended a modest total of 126 runs. RCB’s talismanic batter, Virat Kohli, was fired up. He got involved in a war of words with the LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir.

Kohli’s aggressive behavior throughout the match, including impulsive reactions after each wicket and blowing a flying kiss toward the crowd, was a clear indication of his charged-up state. However, this was not the only incident that had fueled the tension between the two sides. In a previous meeting between the two teams, LSG chased down a massive total against RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following the match, Gambhir put a finger to his lips during an emotional celebration. It looked like Kohli took that as a personal insult. He was equally charged up after RCB defended a low total at the recent match. In a conversation with Star Sports, ex-Indian skipper, Gavaskar called for stricter measures to ensure that such fights do not take place in the future.

“They Should Ensure That This Is Not Repeated,” Says Gavaskar on Kohli-Gambhir Verbal Spat

“They should ensure that this is not repeated. You are hoping that this is not repeated because it’s such a stiff fine, such a stiff punishment. You want to play it hard, play it competitively. So, my point, do something which will make sure, these things don’t happen again. If it has to you know, like it happened with Harbhajan and Sreesanth 10 years ago, that you have to ask them to maybe step aside for a couple of matches. Make sure you do something that ensures that these things don’t happen and also something that will hurt the team. That’s a stiff one,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

In conclusion, the incident highlights the intensity and passion that players bring to the IPL matches. However, it is essential to maintain sportsmanship and professionalism on the field and avoid any unnecessary altercations. The IPL is a highly competitive league. Moreover, such incidents can have a negative impact on the players and the sport as a whole.