“A crossover no one expected" - Fans erupt as BCCI shares clip of Virat Kohli's yet-to-be-released interview with Gautam Gambhir
Indian cricket fans are in for a treat as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a clip on Wednesday, September 18, from an upcoming interview, featuring batting star Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Delhi boys have a storied history, having formed crucial partnerships for India, including an important one in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka.
Over the years, they've also had their share of verbal spats. The first notable incident occurred during the 2013 IPL in a match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Fast forward to 2023, the duo found themselves in another heated exchange after an IPL game between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where Gambhir served as a mentor.
However, Gautam Gambhir has time and again emphasized that his rivalry with Virat Kohli was confined to the field. In IPL 2024, there was a change in their equation, with the two sharing some lighthearted moments. On Wednesday, the BCCI released a clip, showcasing their interaction, which concluded with Kohli saying:
“Putting an end to all the masala (both laughed)."
As fans wait for the full interview, they have taken to X to share their excitement. Here are some of the reactions:
“A crossover no one expected to happen," a fan wrote.
“Two Delhi boys together, it will be a lot of fun,” a fan commented.
“This is the style of boys, no matter how much they fight, they always get together again,” wrote another.
“BCCI about to drop a banger,” a fan wrote.
Meanwhile, the opening match of India's two-Test series against Bangladesh is set to begin on Thursday, September 19, in Chennai.
“He is a thorough professional, a world-class athlete” - When Gautam Gambhir spoke highly about Virat Kohli
Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach was India’s tour of Sri Lanka for the white-ball formats. In a press conference before the tour, he was asked about his relationship with Virat Kohli, to which he responded (via The Times of India):
"My relationship with Virat Kohli is not for TRP. At the moment, we are representing India, we are representing 140 crore Indians. We have an excellent relationship with him off the field. But, it's not for the public. It's not important how many chats I've had with him during or after the game. He is a thorough professional, a world-class athlete, and hopefully he will continue that way.”
Gambhir’s first assignment yielded mixed results. India achieved a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series but lost the ODI series 2-0, with one game ending in a tie.