IPL 2020: Best friends Rohit and Nayar's 'socially distanced' meeting

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A screengrab of a video posted on KKR's Twitter handle, showing Rohit and Nayar maintaining social distance. - Twitter

Dubai - There was no handshake, nor a hug, and no fist bumps when the duo caught up at the Zayed Cricket Stadium

By James Jose

Published: Wed 9 Sep 2020, 5:07 PM

Last updated: Wed 9 Sep 2020, 7:10 PM

They are the closest of friends and have shared many a title-winning dressing room right from their Under-19 days to their time with Mumbai's Ranji team.
But as Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar caught up at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of their respective teams' practice session, it was a meeting of a different kind.

Social Distancing 101 - @abhisheknayar1, @imkuldeep18, catch up with @ImRo45 at training, but with a 'new-normal' twist! ????#HaiTaiyaar #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/MuTZyTeceU
- KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) September 8, 2020

There was no handshake, nor a hug, and no fist bumps. The two stalwarts of Mumbai cricket kept more than a safe distance as they interacted after a long time.
The pair are part of rivals teams in the IPL with Rohit captaining defending champions Mumbai Indians, while Nayar is the assistant coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Both teams are based in Abu Dhabi.
Rohit and Nayar indulged in some small talk from a safe distance, according to the protocols laid out by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"Hum log ka idhar takk hai, tum log ka udhar taak hai (We are until here and you guys are until there,)" Nayar told Rohit, pointing to the barricades.
To which Rohit replied: "Ha, udhar nahee aa sakta mein. Idhar khada rehna padega. (Yes, I cannot come there. We have to stand here itself)."
Nayar tried getting a bit closer but Rohit reminded him about the social distancing by saying: "Iske aage matt aa. Uss taraf reh (Don't come ahead of this. Stay where you are)."
Both had a good giggle after which chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav too joined in the conversation.
james@khaleejtimes.com