IPL 2023: If Naveen-ul-Haq Had Sledged Sachin Tendulkar, Would Gautam Gambhir Reply In The Same Way ? - Ahmed Shehzad Says LSG Mentor Can't Digest That Virat Kohli Has Earned More Respect Than Him

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad opened up about the verbal spat between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He said that LSG mentor cannot digest the respect the Royal Challengers Bangalore batter has earned and he should learn how to respect players with 75 hundreds.

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir were the center of the attraction during the recently concluded IPL 2023. The former Indian teammates were engaged in a heated altercation during the game between Lucnkow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

ICC World Test Championship Final | Dream11 Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips | Cricket Match Prediction Today | Cricket News | Cricket Live Score | Asia Cup 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | IND vs AFG 2023 | IND vs WI 2023

It all started with the heated exchange of words between Virat Kohli and LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq during the game. The duo had some harsh words to say to each other during the game. While many thought that was an on-field tiff, the matter extended even to the post-match handshakes as well.

Also Read: IPL 2023: “I Took A Painkiller” – Avesh Khan Recalls Playing Through Pain In First Few IPL 2023 Matches

Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq had to go at each other and were separated by their teammates. Amidst all this, LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir stepped in too and then the spotlight was on him and Kohli as they too had a verbal spat.

ICC World Test Championship Final | WTC Final 2023 | IND vs AUS 2023 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs AFG 2023 | IND vs WI 2023 | Asia Cup 2023 | ICC World Cup 2023

Ahmed Shehzad while talking about the incident highlighted the gesture of Gautam Gambhir when he gave his Man of the Match award to Virat Kohli after a match against Sri Lanka when Kohli scored his maiden ODI century in 2009. He questioned the LSG mentor saying that he used that award as compensation for the misbehavior. Speaking to Nadir Ali’s podcast, he explained:

“I saw a clip, someone sent me the other day, where Gautam Gambhir said he gave his Man of the Match award to Virat Kohli. Did Virat Kohli tell you to give him Man of the Match? Or you gave the award to him as a compensation for the misbehavior with him after that match. Things don’t work like this.”

Ahmed Shehzad further lashed out at Gautam Gambhir, saying that he cannot digest that Virat Kohli has earned more respect than what he could do in his entire career. He added:

“It looks like Gautam Gambhir cannot digest that Virat Kohli has earned more respect than what he did in his entire career. He cannot digest the fact that Kohli has earned more respect that too at a young age.”

Also Read: IPL 2023: Best English XI Of The Tournament

IPL 2023: “He has 75 hundreds,” Ahmed Shehzad says Virat Kohli deserves respect

Ahmed Shehzad further asked Gautam Gambhir that had Naveen-ul-Haq sledged Sachin Tendulkar, whether he would react in the same. He added that Virat Kohli has achieved a lot in his career and deserves a lot of respect. He explained:

“Just imagine, had Naveen-ul-Haq sledged Sachin Tendulkar in IPL the way he sledged Virat, would Gambhir reply in the same way? So, you know, (we) consider Virat as this generation’s king. He has 75 hundreds. You may not think it is a big achievement, but we are cricket lovers. We love players irrespective of country and religion. So he deserves respect.” He concluded.

Also Read: IPL 2023: 10 Most Cost-Effective Players

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah