Gautam Gambhir and not Virat Kohli took initiative to end feud: Amit Mishra

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It was Gautam Gambhir, who had taken the initiative to end the tussle with Virat Kohli, former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra has revealed. The 41-year-old said that it was Gambhir, who showed a big heart and talked to Kohli.

Amit Mishra was one of the players who interrupted as Gambhir and Kohli converged into each other during a war of words in the IPL 2023. It had all started when Naveen-ul-Haq and Amit Mishra were batting in the middle for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Mishra tried to accord peace as Kohli and Naveen had a go at each in a low-scoring thriller. Kohli was seen pointing fingers at Mishra and asking him to calm his teammate and not him.

Later after the game, Kohli and Naveen had a go at each other once again during the customary handshake ceremony. It was than that LSG mentor Gambhir interrupted and charged at Kohli. Players and support staff from both the sides had to diffuse the situation as the two Delhi guys collided.

IPL 2024 season witnessed altogether a different relationship between Gambhir and Kohli. They buried their bitter past, and talked and hugged each other when they met. They even interacted during the practice sessions before matches despite being in opposite camps.

'Gambhir showed big heart, Kohli should have done it'

Amit Mishra has now revealed that it was Gambhir who went and talked to Kohli. He added that Virat should have stepped forward and shown respect to his senior Gambhir.

"I saw a good thing about Gautam. Virat Kohli didn't go towards him, Gautam went towards him. He went and asked 'How are you, how's your family.' So it was Gautam who ended the feud and not Kohli," Amit Mishra told on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube Channel.

"So Gautam showed his big heart at that time. It should have been Kohli who should have gone and ended the feud. He should have gone and said 'Gauti bhai, let's end this," Mishra added.

During the same conversation, Amit Mishra also talked about how Virat Kohli changed after getting fame and money. He praised Rohit Sharma for remaining grounded despite achieving so many things in his career.

"I won't lie. As a cricketer, I respect him a lot, but I don't share the same equation with him as I used to. Why does Virat have less friends? His and Rohit's natures are different. I'll tell you the best thing about Rohit. When I met him the first day and when I meet him today, he is the same person. So will you relate to him more or with someone who changes according to situation?” Mishra said.

"I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat Samosas, when he needed Pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli, the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it's obviously not the same anymore," Mishra added.

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 29. The star batter is currently in London with his family.