INDIA: The IPL 2023 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday witnessed two incidents involving Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly, highlighting the strained relationship between the two former Indian captains.
The first incident occurred during the 18th over of DC’s chase of 175 when Kohli took a brilliant catch at long-on to dismiss Aman Hakim Khan for 18 off 10. Ganguly, who was positioned at the dugout as the Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket, received a death gaze from Kohli as he made his way back to his fielding position close to the boundary rope.
The incident went viral on social media, and fans speculated that it was a result of the disagreement between the two former Indian captains that started when Kohli was removed from captaincy in ODI cricket over a year ago.
The second incident occurred after the match when the players queued up to shake hands with the opposition players and management. In a video that also went viral, Ganguly was seen jumping the queue to avoid shaking hands with Kohli, who was chatting with Ricky Ponting, the head coach of the Delhi Capitals. The incident added fuel to the already strained relationship between the two former Indian captains.
The match was a crucial one for both teams, with Delhi Capitals yet to open their account in the tournament after suffering their fifth consecutive defeat. Despite a valiant effort by the DC lower order to take the match to the last over, they eventually lost by 23 runs, with Kohli being named the Player of the Match for his half-century knock.
Kohli has been in sublime form in the IPL 2023, especially in the Chinnaswamy Stadium conditions, where RCB has won all their matches so far. His third half-century of the season helped RCB post a competitive total of 174/6, and his brilliant catch in the field added to his contribution in the match.
The incidents involving Kohli and Ganguly added drama to the already exciting encounter between the RCB and DC. It remains to be seen whether the two former Indian captains will bury their differences and move on or whether the feud between them will continue to simmer. For now, RCB can celebrate their victory over Delhi Capitals, and Kohli can bask in the glory of being named Player of the Match for the first time this season.
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