Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu are two of the more aggressive cricketers in the history of Indian cricket and they have both been involved in their own set of spats on and off the field of play.
In this case however, they crossed paths and were involved in a feud that brought them in close proximity to each other before things cooled down.
As things turned out, this happened when Harbhajan and Rayudu were playing for the same franchise team, the Mumbai Indians.
When did Harbhajan and Rayudu fight?
It was in the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier League that the two Indian cricketers, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu had a spat with each other on the field of play.
In a match between the Mumbai Indians – for which these two cricketers plied their trade in that edition – and the Rising Pune Supergiant, Saurabh Tiwary crashed a Harbhajan Singh delivery towards the mid-wicket region.
Rayudu, who was fielding there, put in a good effort but failed to save the boundary, leaving Harbhajan angry. A clearly frustrated Harbhajan Singh dished out a volley of words in the direction of Rayudu who did not take that too well.
The two charged at each other despite being a good 30 meters away from each other but Harbhajan looked to have realised his mistake and tried to assuage the matter by putting his arm around Rayudu’s shoulder.
Rayudu did not appear too convinced, pushing the hand away but with the situation having been diffused, he also retreated back to his fielding position.
Fortunately for the two players and for the team, the matter did not escalate too much especially with the history that the two have had – both firebrand cricketers who have played with their hearts on their sleeves.
Harbhajan, specifically, has been banned for 11 matches by the IPL for slapping S Sreesanth after a match in the 2008 edition of the tournament.
What happened later between Harbhajan and Rayudu?
Not every cricketing feud has a happy ending but this one does have one – at least for now. Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu did not just make up but were also involved in a successful IPL campaign for another franchise.
The two, who were picked up by the Chennai Super Kings for the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League, went on to help their side win their third title in this tournament.
And they would later go on to do an interview together in which both apologised to each other on camera.
This is how that conversation went:
Harbhajan: I have fought with many people. Only one person has fought with me. That’s Rayudu. And that happens sometimes on the ground. If it doesn’t happen on the ground then where would it happen? And why does that happen, because we all want one result. Getting the best for the team we are playing for.
Rayudu: Even today, I am so sorry for that day’s incident. I have apologised many times and I am sorry for it again.
Harbhajan: Don’t be sorry, you are not alone. I have done the same with my seniors too. This happens but there are no grudges that should remain. I also go and say I am sorry, it just happened. But yes, you have guts.
Here’s a clipping of that interview between Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu:
Photo Credit: Pulkit Sinha
from Mumbai, India & Dee03.