It was an absolute theatre when Virat Kohli faced his long-time India and Delhi teammate Ishant Sharma during the match between Royal Challenger Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru on Sunday evening.
After being hit for a four and six, Ishant Sharma got the prized wicket of Virat Kohli and gave his long-time former India teammate a lavish send-off.
Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody while talking to Star Sports called it a “friendly fire” as the duo have played together for around two decades.
“They’re very, very good friends. They’ve played a lot of cricket together for India. And Ishant is a gentle giant,” said Moody.
“Rayudu was telling me off-air how funny he is and how much he adds to a team environment. You can see the laughs between Virat and Ishant. And Ishant got the last laugh, that’s what any bowler would want.
Delhi Capitals’ Ishant Sharma celebrates the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 T20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, Sunday. (PTI)
“At the end of the day, you want to see the back of the batsman, particularly a batsman like Virat Kohli and of that calibre. Virat Kohli’s wicket is a prize wicket for anyone.”
The on-field battle
Kohli edged the first ball of the Ishant’s second over past the wicketkeeper to collect a boundary. Then he gestured to Ishant that he had played the shot deliberately. Ishant, never one to back away, said that he didn’t think so.
Qualification of both teams is on the line.
Meanwhile Virat Kohli & Ishant Sharma. 😭 pic.twitter.com/5JRdEGA4Pr— Rishabh Dubey (@RishabhDub43786) May 12, 2024
The next ball, though, Kohli creamed him over long-on. His eyes wandered for Ishant’s. The fast bowler averted his gaze. Ishant retorted with a beauteous away seamer that beat Kohli’s attempt to punch the ball through the off-side.
Then came Ishant’s moment. He landed the ball just outside off-stump, on a good length, and seamed it a decimal away. Kohli attempted to steer it but this time, the edge was thinner and wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel grabbed it.
Ishant celebrated and gave Kohli a lavish send-off, Kohli took it sportingly and smiled gingerly.
Later in the evening, when Ishant walked out to bat, Virat patrolling at the fine leg can be seen telling Lockie Ferguson to bowl bumper to his former teammate.
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