While Kohli passionately gestured and debated with the umpire, nearby stood Rinku Singh, a player for Kolkata Knight Riders, who appeared to engage in a conversation with the RCB star after the match.
Rinku’s presence beside Kohli during the animated discussion raised eyebrows, especially after recent events surrounding a bat controversy between the two players.
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Earlier, KKR had posted a video on social media where Rinku informed Kohli that the bat he had gifted him during a previous match had broken while batting against a spinner. Kohli’s sarcastic response to Rinku’s request for another bat hinted at some tension between the two players.
In the video, Kohli sarcastically thanked Rinku for informing him about the broken bat and dismissed the idea of giving away a second bat.
“You took a bat one match back, now you want me to give you two bats in two matches? I have to face the consequences at the end,” Kohli told Rinku, seemingly frustrated.
Rinku, however, persisted, expressing his regret and pleading with Kohli to lend him another bat, swearing that he would take better care of it.
“I swear on you I won’t break your bat ever again. I’ve kept the broken one, I can show it to you,” Rinku said towards the end of the video.
The interaction between Kohli and Rinku, both during the match and in the aftermath, has sparked speculation on social media, with some users suggesting that Rinku’s presence during Kohli’s discussion with the umpire was an attempt to further his request for another bat.
While the true nature of their exchange remains uncertain, the incident has added an intriguing subplot.