Did Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting Come Face to Face in a Verbal Fight During IPL 2020; Ashwin Reveals the Truth! 

Delhi Capitals (DC) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that there was a heated exchange of words between head coach Ricky Ponting and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli during IPL 2020. The incident happened when the two teams locked horns on November 2. 

During the match, the cameras at the stadium had captured the moment that took place between Kohli and the umpires before Ponting walked in and the two were then seen having a heated discussion. 

In IPL 2020, RCB and DC took on each other twice in the tournament and it was the Capitals, who emerged as winners on both occasions. In the first match between the two teams, DC thrashed RCB by 59 runs, while in the second, DC won the contest by six wickets.

This incident between Ponting and Kohli had a go at each other during the second game. Talking about the matter in detail, during the strategic timeout, Virat was having a discussion with on-field umpires when Ponting said something before the two and that engaged in a verbal fight.

Fortunately, this small incident did not become a major controversy after the match.

Recently, Ashwin confirmed about it on his YouTube show after Mumbai Indians (MI) won the title. On narrating the incident, Ashwin revealed that Kohli and his team were not happy with him for leaving the field and when they questioned DC for the same, Ponting had given it back to the RCB skipper.

“I had a back problem when I ran. It was a terrible pain. They took MRI scans and it was traced to a nerve pull to the back. I went off after bowling. And you know Ricky, he won’t leave any fight. And when RCB questioned, he said we aren’t like that etc. Heat of moment,” Ashwin said. 

“I have always loved bowling to Virat. He would never take chances against me. Would not give his wicket; it was a matter of pride for him. MS Dhoni also, is like that. In Pune, 2016, I set him up with a ball outside off and it went really high and just as I was thinking, ‘Aaha, kohli wicket’, Ankit Sharma let the ball slip through his hands at extra-cover! Ai! What have you done!,” said Ashwin added.

Currently, Ashwin and Kohli are now travelling to Australia for the upcoming series. India are scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests in Australia while Ashwin is a part of only the Test side.