From Virat Kohli To Shahid Afridi: Four Major On-Field Spats Of Gautam Gambhir's Career

07.12.2023 - 17:09 sports.ndtv.com

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir is once again in the limelight and for all the wrong reasons. Gambhir, who is known for his aggressive nature, has again locked horns with a player on the field and this time he was up against former India pacer S Sreesanth.

The incident took place took during the Legends League Cricket match between India Capitals and Gujarat Giants, Gambhir and Sreesanth got involved into a war of words.

After the match, the former pacer came up with a video on his social media, where he alleged that Gambhir had called him "a fixer." However, this was not the first time that the legendary opener got engaged into a spat on the field.

So, here's a list of incidents, where the two-time IPL champion stole the show with his aggressive nature: Against Shahid Afridi in 2007 The first on our list is the most infamous incident of India and Pakistan's ODI match in Kanpur in 2007.

cricket India Cricket Team Sreesanth on Virat Kohli Gautam Gambhir Shahid Afridi India Sri Lanka Pakistan

A month after a heartbreaking ICC Cricket World Cup final loss to Australia, star India batter Virat Kohli will take to the field in whites during the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, a Boxing Day affair, on Tuesday. As it has been with Virat over the years, the weight of expectations, the cheers of fans, and the anticipation of a century or record break will be at their highest when he takes to the field. Virat has great Test stats against South Africa and in South Africa as well. In 14 Tests against the Proteas, he has scored 1,236 runs at an average of 56.18, with three tons and four fifties in 24 innings. His best score is 254 not out.

From Virat Kohli To Pat Cummins, A Look At Best Cricketers Of 2023

Cricket is a team sport, but yet every day, every month and every year, we find some select faces who stand out in a crowd of hundreds of players out there representing their national flag on the pitch. 2023 was no different. While the year will be remembered for Australia completing a three-peat of ICC World Test Championship, The Ashes and ICC Cricket World Cup, India's dominant run at home that concluded with heartbreak of a World Cup final loss, the aggression of South African cricket team, England's 'Bazball' school of Test cricket and failing down of old, World Cup winning empires like Sri Lanka, England and West Indies, certain individuals caught the eye of fans with their performances. Let us look at some of the best players of this year:

Watch: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Sweat It Out In Nets Ahead Of 1st Test vs South Africa

India's veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sweated it out in companionable silence in the nets during team's practice session on Sunday. India will be aiming for their maiden Test series win in South Africa when they take on the Proteas in a two-match series, starting December 26. There's a 31-year jinx in Indian cricket having missed out on a Test series win in the 'Rainbow Nation' and in the twilight zone of their careers, both Rohit and Kohli would want to achieve which no other Indian teams could.

From Rohit Sharma's Sense Of Humour To Virat Kohli's Return, Inside Details From India's Net Session

It has now been more than a month since the forgettable World Cup final but it still hurts like hell. However, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two battle-hardened professionals who know that it's important to move on as they sweated it out in companionable silence. There's a 31-year jinx in Indian cricket having missed out on a Test series win in the 'Rainbow Nation' and in the twilight zone of their careers, both would want to achieve which no other Indian teams could. While Kohli, who came back from London after a short break with family, joined the training after half an hour, Rohit did look a bit more relaxed after shutting himself off for three weeks.

"Fourth Stump Channel And...": To Dismiss Virat Kohli In Tests, South Africa Great Prescribes This To Home Pacers

When it comes to tackling the peerless Virat Kohli, Fannie De Villiers wants the South African team to play the waiting game in the upcoming Test series. The former South Africa pacer told PTI: "Only way to get a Virat Kohli kind of batter out is a very orthodox way of bowling on the fourth stump channel and play a waiting game. And wait for that one delivery which nips a bit far away. You can't attack a good player."

"Pressure Will Be On Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma...": Gautam Gambhir's Warning 'If Batters Don't Put Runs' vs South Africa

As India eye a first Test series win in South Africa, former opener Gautam Gambhir feels the pressure will be star batter Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma. India have never won a Test series in South Africa, but came close to doing so during their last tour. After winning the first Test, India conceded the series 2-1, with Kohli missing the second Test due to an injury. Gambhir reckons the onus will be on Rohit and Kohli to deliver the goods with the bat for India, adding that the star batters can take the pressure of the Indian bowlers on tricky South African conditions.