Ganguly's Ultimate 'Act Of Respect' For Kohli Buries All Rift Theories

Only last year, a lot was said and written about the worsened equation between former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli. Even certain on-field gestures between the two icons of Indian cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 had triggered social media storms. But, as Kohli and Ganguly met face to face after the conclusion of the IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals, all issues seem to have been forgotten. In fact, it was Dada's gesture towards Virat that left fans on social media quite impressed.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a 35-run victory against Delhi Capitals to boost their playoffs qualification hopes. After the conclusion of the match, the players and support staff of the two teams shook hand with each other. When came the turn of Ganguly to shake Kohli's hand, the Delhi Capitals mentor took off his cap as a mark of respect.

The gesture by Ganguly won hearts of fans on social media. Here are some reactions:

Sourav Ganguly took his cap off before meeting Virat Kohli. That's the respect Kohli has

Good to see them meeting each other after the issues they had in the past #IPL2024 #tapmad #HojaoADFree pic.twitter.com/7fg40fy0sK — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 12, 2024

Sourav ganguly took hi cap off!
Before meeting kohli. The respect the Kohli has!#RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/OFJNLSKLw2 — Dhruv (@Dhruvvsayys) May 12, 2024

Sourav Ganguly congratulating Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/3vhvBvcdt2 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 12, 2024

Saurav Ganguly's eyes and his facial expressions tell a different story of his saga with Kohli than we all know.

Remember he was a huge Kohli fan before 2020. pic.twitter.com/ClFZGj6w9n — (@bholination) May 12, 2024

The iconic and Epic frame ever !!
Sourav Ganguly with Virat Kohli#ViratKohli | #DCvRCB | #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/mmcoPc8hqf — CricStrick (@CricStrickAP) May 12, 2024

As for the match, Delhi Capitals stand-in captain Axar Patel said that it the dropped catches hurt his team's chances. Had fielders taken those opportunities, DC would've restricted RCB for just 150 and won the match.

"Dropped catches hurt us. Could've restricted them to 150. When you lose four wickets in powerplay, you're always chasing the game. 160-170 would've been a par score. Pitch was two-paced. Some were skidding, some were holding. When your main players are run out and you lose four in powerplay, you're chasing the game. Anything can happen, but haven't thought that far ahead," he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

With the defeat, DC's chances of IPL 2024 playoffs progression are all but over.