Sreesanth blames Gambhir for ugly spat during Legends League match, accuses him of personal attacks

Former Indian cricketers Gautam Gambhir and S Sreesanth clashed during a Legends League match on Wednesday (December 6). The heated exchange escalated to a point where the umpire and other players had to intervene to separate the two.

However, Sreesanth clarified after the match on his Instagram account that Gambhir initiated the conflict by making personal remarks.

What happened

• The verbal altercation reportedly occurred after Gambhir hit Sreesanth for a six and a four in the second over of the match, consecutively.
• Following a delivery that Gambhir played to a fielder, he allegedly uttered something that provoked Sreesanth.
• Shortly after, both players engaged in a verbal exchange, prompting Gujarat Giants skipper Parthiv Patel and the umpire to intervene and diffuse the situation.
• In a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Sreesanth can be seen approaching Gambhir, who also responds with words directed at Sreesanth.

‘I’m not at fault’

• Post-match, Sreesanth addressed the spat on his Instagram account. The 40-year-old pacer asserted that Gambhir made unacceptable personal remarks that crossed the line.
• Sreesanth stated, “I’m not at fault here. What Mr Gauti has done, sooner or later, all of you will get to know. The words he used and the things he said on a cricket field live are not acceptable. My family, my state, everybody has gone through so much. I fought that battle with all of your support. Now people want to down me for no reason. He said things he shouldn’t have said. I will surely let you know what he said.”

   

   

   

   

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  A post shared by SREE SANTH (@sreesanthnair36)

• Sreesanth's comments seemingly refer to the IPL 2013 spot-fixing allegations against him, which were later dismissed by the Delhi High Court.
• However, the controversy negatively affected Sreesanth's career, resulting in his exclusion from both the Indian team and IPL.
• Sreesanth also criticized Gambhir for excessively criticizing current Indian players like Virat Kohli and making remarks about MS Dhoni.
• “What’s the point of representing people if you don’t respect your own colleagues? Even in broadcasting, when he is asked about Virat, he never speaks about him. He speaks about something else. I don’t want to go further in detail,” Sreesanth remarked.
• Gambhir’s India Capitals triumphed over Gujarat Giants in the match and will compete in the next qualifier against Manipal Tigers for a spot in the final against Urbanrisers Hyderabad.

Both known for their temperaments

• While it remains unclear who was primarily at fault, it's evident that both Sreesanth and Gambhir have a history of short tempers on the cricket field.
• Gambhir has been involved in multiple on-field confrontations, including a notable verbal spat with Shahid Afridi during an India-Pakistan match in 2007.
• The 42-year-old cricketer also had a brief altercation with Kamran Akmal during an ODI in 2010, and his recent clash with Virat Kohli during an IPL match in 2023 received significant attention.
• Sreesanth, too, is known for his dramatic actions on the field, notably the infamous incident where he was slapped by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh after an IPL match in 2008.
• The right-handed pacer showcased impressive bowling skills with a unique action, but his conduct both on and off the field hindered his career progress.