The recent ‘No handshake’ saga between Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) created a buzz in the cricketing world. While many speculated about the reason behind the cold shoulder given by Kohli to Ganguly, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has given his blunt verdict on the matter.
Shastri stated that the handshake between the two players depends on the kind of relationship they share. He further added that if he didn’t want to talk to someone, he would just go past them. However, he believes that no matter how old someone is, there is always room to grow up and move past any differences.
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The reason behind the animosity between Kohli and Ganguly goes back to their tenure as skipper of the Indian team and President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), respectively. Kohli was vocal about his desire to lead in Tests and ODIs after stepping down from the T20I captaincy. However, he was sacked as the skipper of the 50-over side and later stepped down as Test skipper, leading to a rift between him and Ganguly.
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Despite the controversy, Kohli has been in top form in IPL 2023, leading RCB to a strong start with his exceptional performances. He is among the leading run-scorers in the league so far, with 279 runs and four half-centuries to his name in six games. With his current form, Kohli is expected to contend for the orange cap this season.
In short, the ‘No handshake’ saga between Kohli and Ganguly may have caused a stir, but Shastri’s verdict highlights the importance of relationships in cricket and the need to work past any differences. As for Kohli, his performance on the field is speaking louder than any off-field controversy, and fans can expect him to continue his red-hot form throughout the IPL season.
