The social media battle between Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir escalated after Kohli’s remarkable century in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rajat Sharma, a former Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president and current TV news presenter, also joined in with a veiled reference to Gambhir. This exchange occurred a few weeks after Gambhir launched a scathing attack on Sharma. The two players have been engaged in a war of words both on and off the field.
After Kohli’s impressive 63-ball century that propelled the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a resounding eight-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajat Sharma congratulated Kohli on his outstanding performance. However, he couldn’t resist taking a subtle jab at Gambhir. In a tweet, Sharma wrote, “Magnificent 100 by Virat. It was a delight to watch.
Gambhir had criticized Sharma in a tweet a couple of weeks earlier. Without explicitly naming the journalist-turned-administrator, Gambhir insinuated that Sharma was more interested in promoting paid public relations than genuinely caring about cricket.
Gambhir’s response came in the form of a tweet aimed at Rajat Sharma, the host of a show on India TV. Sharma had taken the chance to criticize Gambhir for his heated confrontation with Kohli during an IPL match between RCB and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
In his tweet, Gambhir referred to Sharma as someone who had avoided his responsibility of overseeing Delhi Cricket, claiming pressure as the reason. He expressed his opinion, stating, “It is interesting to witness someone who evaded the task of managing Delhi Cricket due to pressure, now attempting to portray paid PR as genuine concern for the sport! This situation reflects the challenging era we live in, where individuals run their own court like self-appointed judges.” The controversy surrounding Gambhir’s clash with Kohli had gained considerable attention, and Sharma utilized this moment to voice his disapproval of Gambhir’s conduct.
Returning to the match itself, Kohli’s remarkable century came off just 63 balls and proved pivotal in RCB’s successful chase of the 187-run target set by SRH. Kohli partnered with captain Faf du Plessis (who scored 71 runs) to share a 172-run partnership, leading RCB to an eight-wicket victory with four balls to spare.
During the post-match presentation, Kohli was asked about his less-than-stellar record against SRH. In response, he stated that he doesn’t pay much attention to past statistics and doesn’t let outside opinions affect him. He emphasized that he already puts a great deal of pressure on himself and doesn’t need to credit himself for impactful performances. Kohli maintained that people are entitled to their opinions, but he doesn’t concern himself with them.
The ongoing war of words between Kohli and Gambhir, further fueled by Rajat Sharma’s involvement, reflects the intense rivalries and emotions that can arise in the world of cricket. While Kohli continues to prove his prowess on the field, the off-field battles serve as a reminder that cricket extends beyond the boundaries of the game itself.
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