Cricket has been a game of enormous rivalry since its initiation. Like any other sport, cricket has also witnessed many negative on-field moments concerning different matters of different players. The emotions have often led to high heat and altercations that go against the game’s ‘spirit.’ It is ironic that numerous cricket fights in history have been on-screened, being viral in no time despite being known as the gentlemen’s game. The power of social media is real. Here are the top cricket fights in history:

1. Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi, 2007:

During Ind vs. Pak clash in 2007 at Kanpur, India’s veteran cricketer, now a politician, Gautam Gambhir, was engaged in a furious argument with Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. The spat began when the duo collided with each other while Gambhir was taking a single. 

This became a matter of combat; although it might be accidental, the umpire termed it ‘inappropriate.’ Later, Afridi was fined 95% of his match fee, whereas Gambhir had lost 65%. Notably, this was not the only Gautam vs. Afridi conflict, but the arch-rivals are often seen battling on their social forums. 

Here is the video:

2. Wahab Riaz and Ahmed Shehzad, PSL 1:

In the first edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 1), Peshawar Zalmi’s Wahab Riaz and Quetta Gladiators Ahmed Shehzad were furiously engaged in a verbal argument. The incident caught the light in the fifth over of QG’s inning when Riaz was introduced to deliver the full-length ball to the batsman. Ahmed tried to hit the ball, but it clipped off the stump. The bowler aggressively came closer to the batter, where the verbal dispute turned into physical as the players stirred each other until the umpire attained to obstruct them.

Here is the video:

3. Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth, IPL 2008:

The most vicious moment came out of the first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2008) when Mumbai Indians’ Harbhajan Singh slapped Kings XI Punjab S Sreesanth. Sreesanth’s mocks to Harbhajan infuriated him even more as the spinner was already raged off MI’s defeat. Consequently, the MI’s player lost etiquettes and slapped Punjab’s medium-fast bowler. 

The BCCI made sure not to let go of the footage viral but the incident caught eyes as Sreesnath’s weeping face was all over media later.

4. Ishant Sharma and Kamran Akmal, 2012:

Pakistan and India are known to be arch-rivals of each other. Since their birth, the political tensions between the two countries even fume the trigger more whilst an Indo Pak match. When two states confront each other in cricket, it is more than just a game. Such an incident arose between Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal and India’s Ishant Sharma as they practically thumped each other out on the pitch. 

The leaked photograph portrays a verbal spat between the two. Still, after they intercepted the crowd’s attentiveness, the teammates and umpires stagnate the respective players to normalize the contest, or it could have denoted worst.

Here is the video:

5. MS Dhoni and Mustafizur Rehman, 2015:

Bangladesh vs India in 2015 caught an unusual fighting incident as it involved the coolest of the cricket personality ever. MS Dhoni is apprehended to keep his calm as if he meditates in the ground. During the play, Bangladesh’s debutant, Mustafizur Rehman, tackled in the direction of Dhoni, running for a run. The Indian captain did not esteem the act and deliberately rammed the bowler away to reach the crease. As a result, the two players were s.mashed furthermore were fined their match fees by the referee.

6) Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, 2008:

Harbhajan Singh is known to be a part of significant cricket fights. Let it be the franchise cricket (IPL) or international field; the off-spinner has its name in many clashes. Such an act was spotted in 2005 when India faced Australia in Sydney in 2005 and is named one of the fuming altercations in cricket history.

No cricket fan is unaware of the monkey gate scandal. Harbhajan allegedly hurled racist abuse towards Symonds, calling him a monkey. The matter was later slackened to court.

Here is the video:

Also, read: Indian Media reaction to Pakistan’s Kashmir Premier League