India and Australia are two of the most fiercest rivals in Test cricket. The two have played a number of heated games over the years, and we look at the top three games that were in the news for the sledging between the two sides.
Virat Kohli gives a warning to Steven Smith, Adelaide, 2014
The Indian team, who were being led by Virat Kohli in the first Test Down Under in 2014 at Adelaide, were on the backfoot in the game with a determined David Warner having a go at the Indian bowling. The left-hander was joined by skipper Steven Smith, and the duo managed to put on a threatening stand. Kohli handed the ball over to Rohit Sharma as the Indian team desperately looked for wickets. Smith came down the track to play one of the deliveries, after which the bowler appealed for an LBW, leaving Smith bemused.
Kohli, who is not one to take things lying down, was in the midst of the action as he left his position at skip and came dangerously close to Smith, with the two exchanging heated words. Kohli’s final sentence to Smith was,” Stay within your limits,” as the mood for the rest of the tour was set. The match was lost by India after twin centuries by Warner.
Gambhir elbows Shane Watson, Delhi, 2008
Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was in the form of his life in the 2008 Test series against Australia, which frustrated the rival team. In a bid to get under Gambhir’s skin, the Australians were at their ultra-aggressive best when the left-hander was batting by threatening to throw the ball at the stumps frequently. The same continued even when Shane Watson entered the attack.
Gambhir managed to pull Watson for a boundary, after which he defended a ball. Watson unnecessarily gestured a throw at Gambhir again, with visible verbal jabs. Not one to back off, Gambhir, after pushing a Watson ball towards mid-wicket in the 51st over had a go at the Australian. While Gambhir was running a single, Watson put his hand up to block Gambhir’s route, only to move out of the way at the last moment. Gambhir, who returned for the second run, elbowed the bowler on his way back to the striker’s end, which led Mitchell Johnson and Simon Katich to have a go at the batsman.
On another occasion, in the same game, Katich blocked Gambhir’s route and prevented him from taking a single when VVS Laxman was on strike. This led to a heated exchange between the two, and Gambhir had to pay the price as he was banned for the next game. However, he scored a fine 206 in the first innings as India won the game convincingly.
Virat Kohli at it again, Melbourne, 2014
One of the most frustrating batters for Australia, Virat Kohli, had been on fire in the first Test of the series in 2014 with twin centuries at Adelaide. Though India had lost the game, Kohli set a precedent, and the Australians were well aware that if they had to win the series, they had to get under Kohli’s skin. During the second game, it was Mitchell Johnson who had a go at the Indian batsman After Kohli had defended a ball back to the pacer, Johnson picked it up and threw it back at the stumps. However, the ball hit Kohli, who went down and got up without a fuss.
On the last ball of the over, Kohli smashed Johnson for a four, after which the duo was involved in an exchange. The fact that Kohli was dropped twice off his bowling did not help matters, as an infuriated Johnson kept erring in his lines and lengths. After the Indian got to his hundred, Kohli pulled the bowler for three successive fours, after which he proceeded to show his biceps to the Aussie. The mini-battle continued throughout the innings as Kohli got the better of Johnson, smashing him for fours all around the park. At one time, Kohli even blew a kiss towards the bowler, who did have the last laugh finally as he dismissed the Indian on 169. The Test ended in a draw.