'No one wants to see it boil over' - Australia legend shuts Gambhir-Kohli brawl speculations with 'just move on' remark

After the game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow, controversy broke out in the 2023 Indian Premier League between two of India's top batsmen, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Before the match's action-packed final few overs, Virat and LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq engaged in a verbal brawl that included several exchanges of insults. Naveen and Kohli got into another violent argument after the game, as the Afghanistan star shoved Kohli's hand away.

Fans who had witnessed the pair almost collide in 2013 experienced a "Deja vu" moment when Kohli and Gambhir then got into a verbal altercation. Even though the BCCI swiftly penalised the two and Naveen for their misconduct, numerous former cricket players have continued to condemn them on social media and even some Cricketers have given their takes with the latest being a celebrated Australia allrounder.

‘Once the game's done, the game's done. Let's just move on’ – Shane Watson

Shane Watson, a former all-rounder for Australia, criticised Kohli and Gambhir on Friday for their actions as well, saying that they should have left their altercations on the field and not taken it off.

“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 focusses their mind. 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,” Watson told The Grade Cricketer podcast. “What happened with Virat and Gautam Gambhir... no one wants to see that boil over. GG's not even playing!” the Australia great said with a chuckle.

In the 2013 competition, when Gambhir, who was then the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, charged towards Kohli after the latter had been removed from the game, the two had a similarly heated argument.

An eyewitness narrated what transpired between the two.

"Gautam asked 'Kya bol raha hain bol' (What were you saying?) and Virat replied, 'Maine aapko kuch bola hi naahin, aap kyon ghus rahein ho' (Why are you coming in between when I haven't told you anything). "Gautam responded, 'Tuney agar mere player ko bola hai, matlab tune meri family ko gaali diya hai. (You abused my player and that's like abusing my family) and Virat's reply was, 'Toh aap apne family ko sambhal ke rakhiye'. (Then you take care of your family). "Gambhir's final reply before they were separated was, 'Toh ab tu mujhe sikhayega...' (So now, I have to learn from you...)."