Biggest fights in Indian cricket before the Virat-Rohit-Ganguly saga

Controversies and Indian cricket can never be separated and once again the BCCI is now at the centre of the storm after Virat Kohli’s fiery press conference. Here are the 5 biggest fights in Indian cricket history

Virat vs Kumble

Virat Kohli’s love and admiration for Ravi Shastri is well known but his inability to be in the same room with Anil Kumble became well known in 2017. Months after being appointed as the head coach of Team India, Anil Kumble was unceremoniously shown the door by the BCCI. That was after an apparent rift with the all-powerful Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. There were serious differences between the pair and according to some reports, Virat and Kumble had lost all respect for each other and even couldn’t be in a room together.

Ganguly vs Chappell

In the 2005-06 season, a bitter fight broke out between then captain Sourav Ganguly & coach Greg Chappell. From the streets of Kolkata to the Parliament in New Delhi, every one had weighed in on the controversy which started with Ganguly being dropped and replaced as the captain with Rahul Dravid. After a bitter public fall out, it was Chappell who was dropped by the BCCI and returned to Australia whereas Dada flexed his muscles and was reinstated as the Indian cricket captain.

Dhoni vs Sehwag

After the high of winning the 2011 World Cup, captain MS Dhoni found himself embroiled in an alleged fight with senior batter and former Captain Virender Sehwag. After Dhoni referred to Sehwag and a few more in the team as ‘Slow fielders’, the Nawab of Najafgarh cracked a fast one on his captain in a press conference in Australia. As a result during the 2012 T20 World Cup, Dhoni paraded the entire team in the press conference as a sign of unity.

Gavaskar vs Kapil

Legends Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar too were entangled in an alleged fight during 1984-85 season. Kapil Dev who led India to their maiden World Cup win in 1983 was dropped from the team next year under Sunil Gavaskar’s leadership. As a result, Gavaskar was booed by the Kolkata fans during a test match as he vowed never to play in the City of Joy again. Years later when he was asked about this, Gavaskar flatly denied the claims and said all is well.