Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir spat: Sunil Gavaskar calls for suspension, not fines

'Such incidents mustn't happen again'

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for stricter action like match suspension, instead of heavy fines, for RCB batter Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir following their very aggressive war of words, which stopped just short of an all-out brawl, following an IPL game in Lucknow.

Both Kohli and Gambhir have been fined 100% of their match fee but Gavaskar questioned the efficacy of such steep fines and compared the situation to the Sreesanth-Harbhajan 'Slapgate' incident in the IPL.

Gavaskar told Star Sports, "My point, is do something which will make sure these things don't happen again. If it has to, you know, like it happened with Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth 10 years ago, that you have to ask them to maybe step aside for a couple of matches...make sure you do something that ensures that these things don't happen and also something that will hurt the team."

"IPL is watched by millions. Cricketers are role models for many. The ugly spat sends out a terrible message, especially to the impressionable young. Imposing fines on super-rich cricketers serves as a poor deterrent. Apart from the fine, they should also be made to sit out games like red-carded footballers.-TimesView"

Gavaskar said, "What exactly is a 100 per cent match fee? If it is Kohli, who is on maybe Rs 17 crore for RCB, which means Rs 17 crore for a possible 16 matches, including the semifinals, and finals (sic). So you are talking about a crore of rupees.

"Is he going to be fined ?1 crore and more? Well, that's a very, very stiff fine. I don't know what Gambhir's situation is. They should ensure that this is not repeated. You are hoping that this is not repeated because it's such a stiff fine, such a stiff punishment.

1/10:IPL 2023: Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir ugly face-off

PTI

2/10:​Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir

<p>Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir added another chapter to their bitter rivalry as they got involved in an ugly face-off after the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants. </p>AFP

3/10:Heated argument

<p>Kohli and Gambhir were seen having a heated argument after RCB won the match by 18 runs on Monday night. </p>AP

4/10:100% fine

<p>Both Kohli and Gambhir were on Tuesday fined 100 per cent of their match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. </p>AP

5/10:Kohli and Mayers

<p>The brief interaction between Kohli and LSG opener Kyle Mayers seemed to have triggered the altercation. </p>TNN

6/10:Words exchanged

<p>While the players were shaking hands after the match, LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq and Kohli were seen exchanging words and Glenn Mexwell separated them. </p>AFP

7/10:Mayers and Kohli

<p>This was followed by Gambhir pulling away Mayers from a chat with Kohli. </p>TNN

8/10:Gambhir charges towards Kohli

<p>Just after that, Gambhir was seen charging towards Kohli even as LSG players, including the injured captain KL Rahul, restraining him. </p>PTI

9/10:Heated argument

<p>But eventually, Kohli and Gambhir were involved in a heated argument with players from both sides surrounding them. </p>AFP

10/10:More animated

<p>Gambhir looked the more animated of the two and was repeatedly held back from charging towards Kohli by the LSG players and support staff. </p>IANS

IPL 2023: Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir ugly face-off

"A lot of it has got to do with the fact that everything is on TV. Because you are on TV, you tend to do maybe just that little bit extra," the former opener said.