Cricket, officially known as the jewel of every cricket-playing nation and sometimes regarded as the gentleman’s game, has not shied away from anger flare-ups and violent scuffles mid-competition.
There are players whom people recognize not only due to their aggressiveness but also for their tendency to fight. The incidents listed below show cricketers who were off-color and combative both on and off the cricket field, often lacking sportsmanship.
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1. Gautam Gambhir
Delhi-born opener Gautam Gambhir is renowned for his aggressive demeanor. Numerous altercations have marred his professional career. Gambhir and his coach, Bhaskar Pillai, got into a furious dispute during the 2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy in Bhubaneswar, leading to a four-match ban from first-class cricket. Gambhir is always ready to confront opponents, both at home and abroad.
2. David Warner
Australian cricketer David Warner is known for his aggressive behavior and confrontations. He was suspended for hitting Joe Root in a bar brawl after a Champions Trophy match in 2013 and had several verbal altercations on the pitch with players like Quinton de Kock and Thami Tsolekile. Warner was also involved in the infamous sandpaper scandal.
3. Virat Kohli
Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli is famous for his aggressive on-field persona. He is best known for flipping off the Sydney crowd during India’s tour of Australia in 2012. Kohli also had an incident in 2015 where he verbally attacked a journalist during a practice session, mistaking him for another writer who had written about his relationship with Anushka Sharma.
4. Andrew Symonds
Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds, active in the 2000s, was frequently involved in controversies. His problems began in 2005 when he was dismissed from the team for pre-match drinking. His career further escalated with the Monkeygate controversy involving Harbhajan Singh. Symonds also missed a team practice session to go fishing, engaged in a bar fight, and had physical altercations with Brendon McCullum and a fan.
5. Javed Miandad
Pakistan’s great batter Javed Miandad was often involved in arguments and fights with both junior players and opponents. He once brandished a bat towards Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee and had confrontations with umpires, including a minor altercation after being dismissed during an ODI.
6. Kieron Pollard
West Indies cricketer Kieron Pollard is known for his passionate and sometimes controversial on-field behavior. During the 2014 IPL season, he disagreed with Australian Mitchell Starc, throwing a bat at him, which led to a fine. Pollard also taped his mouth during an IPL match in 2015 and had a confrontation with commentator Sanjay Manjrekar on Twitter.
7. Kamran Akmal
Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal, a former wicketkeeper for the country, had several face-offs. He fought with Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir during the 2010 Asia Cup and had a confrontation with Ishant Sharma in a T20 match in 2012. Akmal also accused the captain and coach of partiality regarding team selections.
8. Ian Botham
English all-rounder Ian Botham is famous for his fiery personality. One of his most infamous incidents was a bar fight with Australian legend Ian Chappell in 1977. Botham also had several altercations with fans during his career.
9. Harbhajan Singh
Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, also known as the Turbanator, is a successful cricketer with a history of controversies. His early international career was marked by an on-field altercation with Ricky Ponting in his first ODI match. He was part of the Monkeygate scandal with Andrew Symonds and the Slapgate incident involving Sreesanth in the IPL.
10. S. Sreesanth
Indian fast bowler S. Sreesanth became notorious for his aggressive celebrations and on-field altercations. His confrontations with international stars like Andrew Symonds and Ricky Ponting, along with his involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, defined his tumultuous career.
These cricketers have left an indelible mark on the game, not just for their talent but for their fiery tempers and controversial actions.
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