Gautam Gambhir calls out India TV's Rajat Sharma for siding with Kohli

New Delhi: The on-ground fight between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir during the IPL match in Lucknow between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru turned into another ugly fight between India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma and Gambhir.

Sharma known for his rivalry with Gambhir since DDCA days sided with Kohli prompting an attack by Gambhir.

Rajat Sharma on Virat Kohli - Gautam Gambhir fight#RajatSharma #ViratGambhirFight #viratkholi #gautamgambhir pic.twitter.com/1MwaR5Cqkb

— NewsDrum (@thenewsdrum) May 4, 2023

Responding to Sharma’s comments made during his daily news show, Gambhir called him a runaway.

Man who ran away from Delhi Cricket citing “pressure” seems over eager to sell paid PR as concern for cricket! यही कलयुग़ है जहां ‘भगोड़े’ अपनी ‘अदालत’ चलाते हैं।

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 3, 2023

Gambhir supporters called out Sharma for taking sides.

IPL kids who have no idea about Rajat Sharma's hatred towards GG because of the DDCA fiasco will celebrate this dalla ofc. https://t.co/6qNMNTYTbJ

— Amit (@YesImAmit_) May 3, 2023

An eyewitness account of Kohli-Gambhir fight

"You saw on TV that Mayers and Virat were walking side by side for a few metres post match. Mayers asked Kohli why was he constantly abusing them and Virat, in turn, questioned why was he (Mayers) 'staring' at him? Before that (Amit) Mishra had complained to umpire about Virat constantly abusing Naveen (ul-Haq), who is a No. 10 batter.

"Gautam, sensing that things could turn ugly, pulled Mayers and told him not to have a conversation, when Virat made a comment. The heated exchange that followed seemed a bit juvenile," he said.

"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...)." The eyewitness said that while it was tense and a blow away from turning into a free-for-all, it all seemed a bit juvenile at both ends.

It was a 'deja vu' moment for everyone who had seen the duo nearly come to blows in 2013, when Kolkata Knight Riders were playing Royal Challengers Bangalore.