In a significant display of sportsmanship and respect, Sourav Ganguly, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), showed his admiration for Virat Kohli, former captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), during a recent IPL match between RCB and Delhi Capitals (DC). This gesture comes a year after a reported rift between the two players, marked by a ‘no-handshake’ incident during an IPL match in 2023.
The incident that sparked controversy occurred at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2023, where tensions between Kohli and Ganguly were palpable. Reports emerged that the two had unfollowed each other on Instagram, indicating strained relations. This rift was believed to have originated from Kohli’s removal from the ODI captaincy in 2021 under Ganguly’s administration, followed by his resignation from the Test captaincy in 2022.
During the IPL 2023 match, Kohli notably threw a ‘death stare’ at Ganguly and later skipped the handshake with him after the match. However, in a turn of events during the same tournament, the two reconciled with a post-match handshake at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, suggesting a thaw in their relationship.
Fast forward to the present, Ganguly’s actions at the recent RCB vs DC match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium have captured attention. Following RCB’s convincing victory, Ganguly, in a remarkable act of respect, removed his cap and approached Kohli for a handshake. Kohli responded with a ‘Thank you’ and a smile, acknowledging Ganguly’s gesture. Ganguly then proceeded to greet the rest of the RCB players, signifying a positive shift in their relationship.
The match itself was significant for RCB, as it marked their fifth consecutive victory in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, propelling them to fifth place in the points table and keeping their playoff hopes alive. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals, missing Rishabh Pant due to suspension, slipped to sixth place after the defeat.
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