The IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore was touted as a showdown between KKR leaders Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli. . This was the first meeting between the two sides since that infamous night in Lucknow last year. The ugly quarrel over the match situation shocked the cricket world. However, during the RCB vs KKR match on Friday, the two resolved the issue with a hug that broke the internet.
Ahead of the match, footage of the incident at the Ekana Stadium when Gambhir was coaching Lucknow Super Giants was repeatedly shown and experts gave their opinions on it. Moreover, a KKR video from a practice session in Bangalore showed Kohli giving Gambhir an icy stare.
However, during the timeout after the 16th over, Kohli and Gambhir shared a warm hug, had a short conversation and shared smiles. Kohli was drinking water and chatting with his teammates when Gambhir walked past him and hugged him. Kohli was all smiles throughout the chat until the Indian legend returned to the KKR dugout.
RCB, who took the lead at home on Friday, lost skipper Faf du Plessis early in the match and KKR’s fast bowler Harshit Rana deceived the opener with a slow delivery. Kohli then teamed up with Cameron Green to score 65 runs for the second wicket, expertly assisted by Glenn Maxwell in a 42-run stand. On his way to his second big partnership, Kohli reached a half-century knock-in on 36 balls, laced with two boundaries and three big sixes.
This is Kohli’s first half-century in the ongoing IPL 2024, after he scored 77 off 49 against Punjab Kings at the same venue last week.
RCB has recorded one win and one loss in the tournament so far. They lost their season opener against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on March 22, but bounced back strongly and recorded a win against PBKS at Chinnaswamy. RCB will be looking for their first win at home against KKR since 2015.
