Following the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday (May 12), a heartfelt gesture from DC’s director of cricket, Sourav Ganguly, towards RCB’s batting legend Virat Kohli has captured the admiration of fans from both teams. This act of goodwill is particularly significant given their contentious history between the both cricketing legends.
Past tensions resurface
In IPL 2023, tensions between the two cricket legends were palpable. During one match, Kohli shot a death stare at Ganguly as he passed the DC dugout. In response, Ganguly conspicuously avoided shaking hands with Kohli by skipping the queue after the match. However, in the reverse fixture at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium later that season, the two icons made headlines by reconciling with a post-match handshake, symbolizing their willingness to move beyond past disagreements.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar lambasts England players for leaving the tournament early
A gesture of goodwill: Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli
A year later, Ganguly’s respectful gesture towards Kohli following RCB’s dominant victory against DC at their home ground further solidified their mended relationship. After the match, as the support staff of both teams gathered for the customary post-match handshake, Ganguly removed his cap before meeting Kohli. He offered his congratulations, to which Kohli responded with a smile and a gracious “Thank you,” This touching moment was widely appreciated by cricket fans on social media, underscoring the mutual respect that has developed between the two.
Here’s the video:
— The Game Changer (@TheGame_26) May 13, 2024
Saurav Ganguly especially Took off his cap while shaking hand with king kohli ❤ pic.twitter.com/3dFbRQJ6GI
— Harsh 🇮🇳 (@kohliicaptain) May 13, 2024
Impact on IPL 2024
The match itself was significant for RCB, marking their fifth consecutive win in IPL 2024, which has bolstered their chances in the race for the playoffs. RCB climbed to the 5th spot on the points table, keeping their playoff hopes alive. On the other hand, DC, missing their key player Rishabh Pant, slipped to the sixth position after the 47 runs defeat.
Also READ: IPL 2024: DC skipper Rishabh Pant drops a cryptic message after facing a one-match ban
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