New Delhi: Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Rajat Bhatia recalled the infamous IPL altercation between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Bhatia shared that while people often forget his cricketing achievements, they remember him for stepping in to prevent the ugly brawl between the two star players during the 2013 IPL. His comments came during Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy, where he was playing for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kohli’s exceptional cricketing skills, leadership, and fierce competitiveness have made him a fan favorite. However, his aggressive playing style has occasionally sparked controversy. One of the most notable instances was his on-field altercation with Gautam Gambhir, which drew significant attention and highlighted the intensity of their rivalry.
The incident took place during an IPL 2013 match between Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gautam Gambhir’s Kolkata Knight Riders. A heated argument between the two, who were also India teammates at the time, sparked concerns about the state of their relationship. Rajat Bhatia, playing for KKR, stepped in and mediated between Kohli and Gambhir, defusing the tension. His timely intervention prevented the situation from escalating further and ended up overshadowing the match itself.
“Mujhe sab log iss liye jaante hain ki maine do logon ki fight rukwayi thi, mere cricket ke wajah se nahi,” Bhatia shared during the broadcast. (People mostly remember me for stopping a fight between two players. That seems to have left a bigger impression than my performances).
Bhatia went on to add, “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.”
After a 12-year absence, Virat Kohli made his much-awaited return to the Ranji Trophy, with his last appearance dating back to November 2012. The opening day of the match between Delhi and Railways attracted a large crowd of around 15,000 spectators. Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and chose to field, a decision that saw Railways bowled out for 241 runs.
However, Kohli’s return didn’t live up to expectations. He could only manage six runs off 15 balls before being dismissed on Day 2. His early exit left the crowd visibly frustrated, with many beginning to leave the stadium. Despite a brief moment of excitement with a well-timed boundary, Kohli’s innings was cut short when he was dismissed by Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan on the very next delivery. By the close of Day 2, Delhi was at 334/7.
