'I'm looking forward to the match up outside the boundary line' - Varun Aaron hypes up Kohli-Gambhir face-off in RCB-KKR clash

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are two cricketers who wear their hearts on their sleeves. They give their 100 per cent at all times for their respective crests. Both of them have had a fierce rivalry over the years, the latest chapter being added last year during the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gambhir was the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year. During their home game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Kohli and Gambhir were involved in a war of words that took the cricketing world by storm. Now, the former India cricketer has shifted base to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and is serving as their mentor. The former two-time champions are set to face RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, March 29.

Also Read: Virat Kohli's IPL Record and Stats against Kolkata Knight Riders

Former India speedster Varun Aaron said that he was looking forward to seeing Kohli and Gambhir coming face-to-face at the iconic Chinnaswamy on Friday.

“I don’t want to stir anything but I'm looking forward to the match-up outside the boundary line. Gautam Gambhir is going to be there right beside the Bengaluru dug-out, I don’t know what's going to happen there. We know Virat likes to have fire in his belly and if he just looks at the Kolkata dug-out, he’s going to get fired up,” said Aaron while speaking to Star Sports ahead of the clash.

Incidentally, the 2023 encounter between Gambhir and Kohli wasn't the first instance when the two Delhi batters were involved in an altercation in the IPL. In the 2013 edition of the cash-rich league, Gambhir was the captain of KKR, while Kohli was leading RCB. During a clash between the two teams, the right-handed batter was dismissed in the 10th over and was walking back to the dugout. However, a few moments later, the scene completely changed as the two stalwarts charged towards each other aggressively before Rajat Bhatia and the umpires separated them.

Also Read: I have four packs so I’m working on the next two, taking motivation from UFC fighters to improve fitness: Andre Russell

Nice battle to look forward to: Steve Smith

Legendary Australian cricketer Steve Smith is on the expert panel for IPL 2024. He heaped praise on Kohli for his knock of 77 off 49 balls that helped RCB win their last game against Punjab Kings. The former Australian skipper said that he was waiting in anticipation to watch the storied rivalry between RCB and KKR unfold on Friday.

"Yeah, that's a nice battle to look for. The rivalry is not going to be any different. I'm looking forward to it. Virat was outstanding last game, he showed some real ominous signs, and I am looking forward to that contest tomorrow (at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium)," Smith stated.