Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan opened the batting for India in a Test match against Sri Lanka in Delhi after Virender Sehwag fell ill. Pathan made 93 runs in that innings, a significant contribution that came during a match marked by tension between the two teams. The incident that unfolded during this encounter has remained a talking point in cricket circles for over two decades.
Pathan revealed the full context of what happened during that Test match on the JioHotstar programme Cheeky Singles.
The former Indian star explained that a change to the ball box during Sri Lanka's innings had sparked controversy among the visiting team's players, with Kumar Sangakkara the most vocal in his objections.
"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 the Sri Lankan players were not happy." Pathan said.
"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 Muralitharan for two sixes," he added.
Kumar Sangakkara's personal sledging during Irfan Pathan's batting
When Pathan returned to bat, he was unaware of the ball-change controversy that had upset the Sri Lankan camp. His aggressive batting against Muralitharan, hitting the spinner for two sixes, drew a sharp response from Sangakkara, who was fielding behind the stumps. The sledging that followed crossed the line from typical on-field banter into personal territory.
Sangakkara's frustration at being hit for boundaries led him to make accusations of cheating and to question the upbringing of Indian players. Pathan responded in kind, and the exchange became heated as both players traded words. The moment reflected the intensity of the contest and the emotions running high during the match.
"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," Pathan said.
How the two resolved their differences at Kings XI Punjab
The rift created by this incident lasted for some time, with both players carrying the memory of their heated exchange. However, the two cricketers would eventually find themselves in the same team when they were both picked up by Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008. This unexpected reunion forced a reckoning between them.
Pathan took the initiative to resolve the matter by approaching Sangakkara and apologising for his part in the incident. Sangakkara reciprocated the gesture, and the two moved past the tension that had defined their previous encounter. What had begun as a bitter exchange on the field transformed into a genuine friendship off it.
"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 concluded.
