Indian Premier League 2023

Watch: The crowd footage that gives a new angle on the Kohli-Naveen-Gambhir altercation

by Wisden Staff May 2, 2023 - 11:30am 3 minute read

Watch: Footage filmed by a fan in the crowd at the Ekana Stadium at the end of the Lucknow Super Giants-Royal Challengers Bangalore game yesterday has given a new perspective on the clash between Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir and Naveen-ul-Haq in the IPL.

Following a fiery, low-scoring clash which was won by RCB, tensions bubbled over during and following the post-match handshakes. Kohli and Naveen engaged in a heated conversation while shaking each others hands, before Gambhir, a global mentor for LSG, pulled Kyle Mayers – who was having a good-natured chat with Kohli – away.

In the TV footage, the cameras then focussed on Gambhir shouting across the field as several LSG players attempted to move him away. Then the two teams came together in a mass huddle, with Kohli and Gambhir in the middle.

The new fan footage gives a new angle on the incident, showing Kohli and Marcus Stoinis having a conversation during the handshakes. It also shows Kohli’s actions while Gambhir shouted across the field, with the former India captain responding as both RCB captain Faf du Plessis and LSG captain KL Rahul attempted to calm him.

The drama has continued since the end of the game, with Kohli and Naveen each posting cryptic statements on social media. All of Naveen, Kohli and Gambhir have been punished for their involvement in the fracas, with Naveen fined 50 per cent of his match fee and Kohli and Gambhir copping a 100 per cent match fee fine.