Cricket is a very popular game. In a high stakes tournament, tensions are bound to run high. So it is natural for players to get into fights with each other. However, these 5 fights between national teammates were the most high-voltage of the sport.
VIRAT KOHLI AND GAUTAM GAMBHIR
This IPL showdown was a one just waiting to happen. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli are two of the most intense players in cricket. So when RCB faced off against the KKR, sparks were bound to fly. What followed as a big spat between the two Delhites, and players from both teams had to separate the two. Gambhir and Kohli were both fined for their behavior by the match referees.
RAVINDRA JADEJA AND SURESH RAINA
Jadeja and Raina are two of the most talented left-handed cricketers in the world. This incident happened in a tri-series match against West Indies. Raina was having a bad day, having dropped a few catches. This seemed to upset Jadeja. After Jadeja caught a catch and went to celebrate with the team, Raina and Jadeja exchanged a few words. However their spat seemed to be resolved as they walked off the field together after the match.
MOHAMMAD ASIF AND SHOAIB AKHTAR
This altercation is a bit serious one, and this involves actual assault. Mohammad Asif and veteran pacer Shoaib Akhtar had a disagreement in the dressing room, with Akhtar hitting Asif on the left thigh with a bat. This left Asif bruised. Akhtar was withdrawn from the first T20 World Cup and was handed a fine along with a 3 match ban.
DOUG BRACEWELL AND JESSE RYDER
Jesse Ryder had a great career with the New Zealand team. However he also gained a reputation for his alcohol-induced shenanigans. He got into a physical fight with talented New Zealander and fellow teammate Doug Bracewell. The tussle resulted in a broken foot for Bracewell and an injured hand for Ryder. They were subsequently left out of the next series for a single match.
MATTHEW HAYDEN AND GLENN MCGRATH
This incident occurred when both Hayden and McGrath were relatively unknown on the international stage. They both were batting for Australia-A. After Hayden hit a ball to covers, they crossed each other. Hayden clearly said something to McGrath, who wasn’t pleased by what he heard. He retorted to Hayden and shoved him away. The hatchet was buried as they went on become a part of one of the best Australian teams of all time.
