Watch: Virat Kohli engages in long chat with Gautam Gambhir ahead of KKR-RCB clash at Eden

Nearly a year since their infamous on-field face off in Lucknow, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir decided to put aside their differences and bury the hatchet with a hug at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on 29 March.

And nearly a month since that heartwarming on-field moment, the two sides meet once again in the first return clash of the season with KKR and RCB squaring off at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Sunday.

On the eve of clash during the nets session on Saturday, Kohli and Gambhir crossed paths once again and this time decided to engage in a long conversation — perhaps the most they might have spoken with one another since the last time they shared a dressing room.

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Watch:

🔴 #KnightLive | Stay tuned for more action from KKR and RCB’s pre-match training session at Eden Gardens#AmiKKR | Gautam Gambhir | Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/M1LFBm9dFQ

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 20, 2024

Jhappi laga liya. Masala khatam 😋

Things we love to see on a cricket field 💜❤️ pic.twitter.com/XDvpGyLcQ2

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 20, 2024

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It was in Bengaluru where the two stalwarts of Indian cricket had the first of their run-ins, in the 2013 season back when Gambhir was leading the Knight Riders and Kohli was yet to captain the Royal Challengers.

The two Delhi lads would have another face-off at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium last year with Gambhir mentoring the Lucknow Super Giants this time.

Tensions began to simmer between Kohli and LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq while the latter was at the creas during his team’s chase, but wouldn’t spiral out of control until Gambhir got involved in the matter after the conclusion of the match.

Also Read | Naveen narrates what led to Kohli-Gambhir altercation in Lucknow

Kohli and Gambhir would have to be separated as a war of words broke out. As for Naveen, he would continue to take potshots at Kohli on social media but would ultimately reconcile with the Indian batting superstar in the ICC World Cup meeting between India and Afghanistan in Delhi.

Gambhir has also been perceived as a commentator highly critical of Kohli both as a batter and as a captain, and deliberately underplaying his achievements.

If their newfound bonhomie this season is anything to go by however, the two probably have decided to move on from those incidents and start afresh.