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Delhi Capitals (DC) assistant coach Shane Watson has had his say on the infamous verbal spat between former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Gautam Gambhir. Watson feels that the competitive nature belongs on the field but once the game is over, everything should be left there.
“Being competitive on the field is great, I’m all for that. That’s where people are at their best… it hones their instincts and focuses their mind,” Watson said on The Grade Cricketer podcast.
“But when that boils over off the field, that’s when you got to leave it. On the field, you can have a crack because you’re fighting for survival, trying to win and be at your best.
“Once the game’s done, the game’s done. Let’s just move on.
“What happened with Virat and Gautam Gambhir… no one wants to see that boil over. GG’s not even playing!” he added.
The former teammates were fined 100 per cent of their match fee by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for committing Level 2 offence under Article 2.21 of Indian Premier League (IPL) Code of Conduct.
Former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag called for stricter punishment which would hurt the team rather than a fine. Apart from Kohli and Gambhir, LSG’s Afghan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq was fined 50 per cent of his match fee as well. Naveen had a heated argument with Kohli during the run chase and during customary handshake.
RCB will take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in the second clash of May 6. In the previous game against DC last month, Kohli scored a half-century and celebrated in an aggressive style. Kohli and DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly also avoided each other after the game. Few videos of Kohli during the game went viral as well.
Last month, Watson refused to pay heed to the rumours but shared that Kohli was definitely fired up in the clash.
“It could be rumour mongering, but I'm not sure. So, it's not something I want to get involved in,” the former Australian all-rounder had said.
“But there was definitely some fire in Virat's belly, that's for sure. For an opposition point of view, that's the last thing you need as well. Virat, when he's like that, that's when he's at his absolute best. Whatever reason that was, I'm not exactly sure,” he opined.
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