Kohli Gambhir argument: Both men punished by BCCI

Monday night in the IPL 2023 saw a rare sight: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir having a heated on-field argument after the RCB vs LSG match.

In the aftermath of the Kohli Gambhir argument, news has come out that the BCCI has handed out a hefty penalty to both of these Indian cricket icons. Here’s more about Kohli vs Gambhir.

BCCI hand out punishment for Kohli Gambhir argument

Following the Kohli Gambhir argument on Monday night, both the RCB captain and LSG team mentor have admitted to breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct.

As a result, both men have been punished by the BCCI.

The heated argument on-field was deemed to be a Level 2 offence. Such a breach incurs a fine equal to 100% of the match fees that Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir would have earnt from the RCB vs LSG match.

Another party to the argument, Naveen-ul-Haq, has been fined 50% of his match fee as well.

Kohli Gambhir argument: What started it?

For those who haven’t been keeping up with the headlines, here’s how it all went down on Monday night between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir after the RCB vs LSG match.

It appears as though the source of the Kohli Gambhir argument was a sledging incident between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli while LSG were batting.

Kohli Gambhir argument
Photo Credit: Icon Sport

Naveen-ul-Haq was batting in the 17th over of LSG’s innings, when Mohammed Siraj bowled a bouncer to him. The ball was given as a no-ball, but Naveen-ul-Haq failed to capitalise on the delivery, which led to Siraj throwing down the stumps and giving Naveen-ul-Haq a stare down. Words were exchanged, during which Kohli joined in from mid-off.

After RCB won the match, Virat Kohli gestured to the LSG crowd to be quiet. He did this by putting his finger to his lips, in a repeat of the action that Gautam Gambhir made when LSG won by a wicket at Chinnaswamy Stadium earlier in the season.

Further words were exchanged when the players were shaking hands, where Glenn Maxwell had to separate Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli.

Gautam Gambhir intervenes with Virat Kohli on-field

Following all of this on-field tension, Virat Kohli appeared to be relaxed. The RCB captain was talking with LSG’s Kyle Mayers, when Gautam Gambhir came and removed Mayers.

Gambhir and Kohli then had a conversation which initially appeared fine. Kohli was appearing to make amends, placing his hand on Gambhir’s shoulder and talking as though he was explaining something.

Suddenly, tempers flared in Kohli vs Gambhir and the scene turned ugly. Tempers were evidently flared, and the heated exchange of words had to be broken up by RCB’s Faf du Plessis and LSG’s KL Rahul.

This was not the first time these two have had a go at each other—a decade ago, there was tension during a Kohli dismissal in Bangalore, where Gambhir and Kohli exchanged words.

What others are saying about the Kohli vs Gambhir argument

England’s Michael Vaughan has spoken out about the Kohli Gambhir argument, saying this,

“I don't mind players having small confrontations. It's just the game. You don't wanna see it every day but I do not like seeing coaches get involved.

I don't see why the coach or any part of the coaching department is involved in the game. What goes on the field stays on the field. If there is an argument between two players, they need to sort it out.

Coaches should be in the dugout or the dressing room looking at strategies.”

Stay tuned for more on Kohli vs Gambhir, in what is becoming one of the more exciting rivalries in the IPL 2023, albeit not between two players.

Bren GrayBren Gray

Bren is our resident Kiwi, and has been playing or watching sports down under in New Zealand for the better part of three decades. With 12+ years' experience as a professional writer, Bren loves to dive deep into all things cricket to bring the best betting analysis, predictions and news here at CricNerds.com.