Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Rajat Bhatia detailed the infamous IPL fight between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Rajat Bhatia said that people don't remember him for his cricket but for stopping the ugly brawl betwen Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir in IPL 2013. Former India star's remarks came during Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy return against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kohli's exceptional cricket skills, leadership, and intense competitiveness have cemented his place as a fan favorite. However, his aggressive playing style has also been the source of several controversies. One notable example is his on-field altercation with Gautam Gambhir.
Rajat Bhatia on Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir's ugly IPL fight
It all happened during an IPL 2013 match between Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gambhir's Kolkata Knight Riders. A heated argument between the two players, who were also India teammates at the time, raised concerns about the state of their relationship. The situation was defused by Rajat Bhatia, playing for KKR, who intervened to mediate between Kohli and Gambhir. His timely intervention prevented further escalation and ultimately overshadowed the match itself.
“Mujhe sab log iss liye jaante hain ki maine do logon ki fight rukwayi thi, mere cricket ke wajah se nahi. (People mostly remember me for stopping a fight between two players. That seems to have left a bigger impression than my performances)," Bhatia shared during the broadcast.
"Now, one of them has a stand named after him, and the other has a pavilion (laughs). Every team has its share of small disagreements. Even in Delhi’s Ranji squad, we had them. But it’s important not to hold onto those moments. Today, one is the head coach, and the other plays a pivotal role in the team,” Bhatia further added.
After a 12-year absence, Virat Kohli finally returned to the Ranji Trophy arena, his last appearance dating back to November 2012. The opening day of the match between Delhi and Railways drew a sizable crowd of approximately 15,000 spectators. Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that saw Railways bowled out for 241 runs.
Kohli's return, however, proved to be a disappointment. He failed to make a significant contribution, managing only six runs off 15 balls before being dismissed on the second day. His early exit visibly frustrated the crowd, many of whom began to leave the stadium. Despite briefly raising hopes with a well-struck boundary, Kohli's innings was cut short the very next delivery when he was dismissed by Railways' pace bowler, Himanshu Sangwan. Delhi were placed at 334/7 when the stumps were drawn on Day 2.