Virat Kohli is not only a phenomenal player but also an inspiration for lakhs of youngsters, who wish to take up cricket as a career option. Similarly, Gautam Gambhir has been one of the finest openers of the modern era, and it was his innings in the finals of the World Cup in 2011 which laid the foundation of India’s spectacular win over Sri Lanka. Therefore, when these two iconic cricketers, with a history of confrontation, had a spat following the IPL fixture between the Bangalore and Lucknow teams, it was something no lover of the sport could have endorsed. Whatever their personal or professional differences, both Gambhir and Kohli had no business to behave in the manner in which they did, and that too in full view of the cameras, and also to the dismay of their fellow players. The duo has been fined their full match fee along with Afghanistan pacer, Naveen-ul-Haq, who was fined half the amount he would have earned. In the manner in which the IPL is structured, it is likely that the fine imposed by the Match Referee, in consultation with the Umpires, would be possibly paid by the franchises who have signed them up. What has hurt the cricket fans is that this kind of behaviour is both unacceptable and is certainly against the spirit of the game. Seniors like Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble, Virendra Sehwag and many others have already condemned the on the field face-off. The matter has not ended with Kohli quoting from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius to drive home his point. Gambhir is the mentor of the Lucknow team and is also a Member of Lok Sabha from the national capital. He is known to have a short temper but that does not justify what happened on that particular day. Kohli is still an active player in all formats of the game and is known for his aggression, both on and off the field. He is never shy of confronting rival players or teams, if in his estimation, any action by the opponents was against the interests of his own side. However, this does not give him licence to cross the red line. He is not the only one who plays the game with passion, and on the field, many things happen in the heat of the moment. But once the match gets over, players shake hands and allow the matter to rest there. What is disturbing is that this did not happen. As a matter of fact, the post-match ceremonies, aggravated the matter further, as the two famous cricketers lunged towards each other, only to be separated by their concerned team mates. It is not the first time that such an ugly incident has taken place on the field and neither is it going to be the last. Nevertheless, the players need to always remind themselves that it is the game they play which is superior to their skills and contributions. In his prime, Gavaskar, considered by many of his fans, as the greatest Indian test batsman of his era, was also accused of infringing discipline. So were Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mohinder Amarnath and many others. Surely, looking back, these former players also must be realizing their mistakes. Gambhir has retired but Kohli is going to be still around for some more years. Therefore, he must set the example for impeccable conduct, rather than allowing his emotions to get the better of him. This kind of incident should not be repeated by anyone who is participating in the ongoing IPL tournament. The authorities must have guidelines in place to take strict action if players lower the dignity of the game.
