'Everyone Has The Right To Fight...' Gambhir Opines On Naveen-Kohli

image-lnmzczk4Naveen patting Kohli's back (AP Photo)

Gautam Gambhir was mighty pleased to witness Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq end their longstanding rift and viral spat with heartening gestures during the ICC World Cup 2023 league stage encounter played in Delhi on Wednesday (October 11). 

The former India cricketer was present in his role as Star Sports commentator at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi when Kohli and Naveen were seen shaking hands and sharing a laugh to make amends on their infamous exchange during the IPL 2023. 

As the two cricketers met eye to eye in the Indian run-chase for the World Cup game, Naveen made it a point to apologise to Kohli while the modern-day legend was equally open to the idea of redeeming his on-field spat with the Afghanistan pacer and had a chat full of warmth and sportsmen's spirit with him after the game. 

Kohli exhibited his lion-hearted nature by gesturing the packed crowd inside the Kotla not to troll and abuse Naveen, which would hopefully also put to end the constant naysaying and jeering the young Afghan speedster has received at venues and on social media from Indian fans.


Gambhir pleased as Kohli makes amends with Naveen

Gambhir, who had seen the ugly altercation between Naveen and Kohli in his capacity as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor at the Ekana Stadium on May 1, appreciated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) giant for restoring sanity in his on-field rivalry with the LSG seamer. 

Even though the former India opener had himself lost his temper and engaged in a viral tussle with Kohli after the LSG-RCB fixture, Gambhir now says he is happy that the time has healed the two cricketers' wounds and calmed down the anger they were carrying for each other. 

"Important thing is to leave whatever happened in the middle to the ground," Gambhir said in a video clip shared by Star Sports anchor Jatin Sapru on social media. "Everyone has the right to fight for themselves, for their team, their respect and for their performances. So I believe whatever had happened (shouldn't have escalated)."

Gambhir, however, took the opportunity to request the Indian crowds to not join in the arguments they witness on a cricket field and not to create any on-ground or social media campaigns against opposition players. Aware of the heat Naveen has had to face in the past six months, Gambhir asked the Indian crowds to be better ambassadors of the sport in the country. 

"The crowd should've behaved more sensibly, for no one present inside the stands had any idea of the exact back and forth. It's only the two individuals and their teams that are aware of what got said between them," Gambhir said. 

"So I hope the crowds will behave in a much better way and support their players in a more respectful manner in the future. Whenever teams and players travel to India, you want them to carry home better image and better memories of the country and stadiums they visited. Let's be better ambassadors of the game and the nation."

Gambhir also hailed Kohli's Kotla gesture for its "fabulous" nature and urged him and the rest of the home team players to ask fans inside the grounds to create a healthy atmosphere for touring players from all countries.