NEW DELHI: A playful exchange between players can often lighten the mood, especially when it involves international cricket stars from India.
Despite the high stakes of securing a playoffs berth for both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, the banter between Delhi’s own Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma added a touch of amusement during their IPL match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Initially, Kohli showcased his batting prowess by hitting Ishant for a four and a six, but the tables turned when the pacer managed to dismiss the former captain, playfully tugging at Kohli, who responded with a smile.
During the 19th over of the DC innings, Kohli playfully teased Ishant, creating an entertaining moment that even the commentators thoroughly enjoyed.
Former cricketers-turned-commentators Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Kaif added to the jovial atmosphere with their humorous Hindi commentary on the friendly exchange between Virat and Ishant, as captured in a viral video.
Sidhu quipped, “First tell me who’s the camel and who’s the mountain? It looks like a kid is looking at a huge mountain, standing under the neem tree (referring to Ishant, who stands well over six feet).”
Kaif chimed in, “A tall man always has to lower his eyes to talk, while the smaller one has to raise his head high.”
Sidhu, amidst laughter in the commentary box, continued, “He (Virat Kohli) may be small in height, but his stature is as big as Mount Everest; there is no one bigger than him.”
The camaraderie between Virat and Ishant extends back many years. They have been teammates for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy for several seasons, and Ishant has also played under Virat’s captaincy during his tenure with the Indian cricket team.
With a 47-run victory over DC, RCB climbed to the fifth spot in the points table, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the playoffs alive.
