IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir fined 100% of match fees for post-match spat

While Kohli and Gambhir have been fined 100% of their match fees, LSG’s Naveen-ul-Haq has been fined 50% of his match fees.

May 2, 2023 - 13:30

IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir fined 100% of match fees for post-match spat

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants’s global mentor Gautam Gambhir have been fined 100% of their match fees for their post-match spat at the Ekana stadium in Lucknow on Monday. LSG bowler Naveen-ul-Haq was fined 50% of his match fee as well.

While Kohli and Gambhir were sanctioned for a level 2 breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, Naveen-ul-Haq was sanctioned for a level 1 breach.

All three were found in violation of Article 2.21, which covers: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.

Kohli was an animated figure during LSG’s chase and gestured shushing the crowd after taking the catch to dismiss Krunal Pandya. Gambhir had similarly shushed the crowd at the M Chinnaswamy stadium when LSG beat RCB in a last-ball thriller earlier this season.

Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq exchanged words when the latter was dismissed and the pair had a testy handshake followed by some more heated words after the match.

Footage also showed Gambhir and Kohli share a rather forced handshake with the LSG mentor later pulling opener Kyle Mayers away from Kohli when the West Indian batter was chatting with the former India captain.

Tempers flared minute later when...