Former India cricketer turned commentator Irfan Pathan revealed his infamous on-field altercation with Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara during the 2005 Tests. However, Sri Lanka were touring for a seven-match ODI and three-match Test series. During the second Test in Delhi, Irfan was asked to open the batting in India’s second innings and he revealed how the Sri Lankan players were unhappy with this change. While batting, Irfan hit Muthiah Muralidaran for a couple of sixes, following which Sangakkara had a verbal go at Irfan.

“There was a Test match in Delhi. I opened and made 93. After the first innings, when we went to bowl, the box of balls had changed or something like that happened, and Sri Lankan players were not happy. Sangakkara was the most vocal of all. Then, when I went to bat, I had zero idea what had happened; I was asked to open. I hit Muralidharan for two sixes. If he is getting hit for sixes with the new ball, it means you have derailed the opposition’s planning a bit. Suddenly, Sangakkara started saying you guys cheat, your parents teach you all this and blah blah. He went personal, and I also answered back. He started it,” he said on ‘Cheeky Singles’.

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“After the auction, I saw I would be playing with Sangakkara at Punjab. Now I was eating with his family, and I did not know what to do. I went and told him sorry. He also apologised, and then we became good friends. Emotions are high, and you always make mistakes. It matters how maturely you handle things,” he stated again.

Meanwhile, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara revealed an interesting incident involving West Indies veteran Chris Gayle and his unusually heavy bat during the 2009/10 IPL, when they were both part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise as well.

“When I started in the IPL, Chris Gayle was batting very well. I went to him and asked to see his bat. Normally, any player’s bat weighs 1150 or close to 1200. When I held his bat for the first time, I was unable to lift it. It was almost 1400 gm. I played one ball with that bat. Then I went to Gayle and asked him how he would lift that bat. If I played with that bat, I would hit every ball for a six, but I did not have the strength to lift the bat at all,” he concluded.