Delhi Capitals won their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the most emphatic fashion on Saturday evening at the Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi. It was perhaps the best they have played this IPL. But that’s not what was trending on social media. The moment the match got over, Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli started to trend. Memes were posted, and it was as if Ganguly had won a personal battle against Kohli.
In fact, the match was marketed as one between these two giants of Indian cricket. While it made for a provocative build-up and riled up fans on both sides, it actually did not do any good for Indian cricket. Such gimmicks don’t. Kohli wasn’t playing Ganguly. He was playing the Delhi Capitals, and Ganguly is just another member of the Delhi support team. A loss could never be a personal defeat for Ganguly and now that Delhi have won, it isn’t a personal setback for Kohli either.
That’s why when the two exchanged pleasantries at the end of the game, it was a welcome gesture. Normally, a routine handshake doesn’t go viral on social media. Many had hoped for more fireworks, and that’s where the two had to resist and not give in. They did not, and an unnecessary controversy has now been put to rest.
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Will Ganguly and Kohli ever be best friends? Is that even needed? Do they need to spend social time with each other?
The answers to all these questions are in the negative. Two super achievers, it is understandable that they will both have their egos and likes and dislikes. They might also have ideological differences, and differences in perspective. But when there is something that might help Indian cricket, both Ganguly and Kohli need to go beyond personal issues and show respect to the sport. Indian cricket is bigger than both, and that’s why it was good to see the two come together at the end of the game and exchange a few pleasantries.
Nothing can ever take away from the fact that Ganguly was one of the greatest captains India has had, or that Kohli was and is one of the finest batters to play the game, not to forget his contribution as captain and leader. All we need between them is civility. Not friendship, but civility. For that’s what the sport demands, and that’s what cricket needs. Refusing to shake hands or making gestures at each other is childish, and only plays into the hands of social-media trolls. And when such things happen, cricket loses out. They are icons for a reason, and that status is premised on conduct both on and off the field. That’s exactly why it was good to see them both step up to close the controversy last night.
The handshake will not make them friends. Nor is that needed. But what it did was temper fan passion, allowing the sport to take centre stage. Cricket is also about character building. In fact, a win or loss is far less relevant. And that’s where Kohli and Ganguly did well last night. They helped the sport, which has made them what they are today.