Matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan forever has been high-octane with players from both teams putting everything on the line to trump their opponents.
As a result, there have been numerous instances when players from either side clashing against each other through verbal spats or even physical contact.
However, whenever a player abuses his teammate on the field, it is always a subject of compelling viewing. One of the instances occurred between former Indian left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra and MS Dhoni during the 2005 India-Pakistan ODI series.
The series is better known for Dhoni announcing himself at the international stage at Vizag with his mammoth 148.
The evenly-fought series reached Ahmedabad where Pakistan’s explosive batsman Shahid Afridi was going great guns, freshly off the record ton at Kanpur.
Just when Afridi tried to put his foot on the accelerator, Nehra managed to get a healthy outside edge, which went flying towards slips.
Moreover, the dashing batsman had the rub of the green as the ball pierced a gap between the wicketkeeper and Rahul Dravid at slips.
A furious Nehra then gave a mouthful, slamming Dhoni with infamous abuses, expecting him to pick a direct catch.
“I distinctly remember that match in Visakhapatnam. It was the second ODI of that series. In a video that went viral, I am seen hurling abuses at MS after an edge off Shahid Afridi’s bat goes between Dhoni and Rahul Dravid at first slip. People assume it’s from the Vizag match, but that incident is from the fourth ODI in Ahmedabad. However, I must admit I am not proud of my behaviour,” Nehra told TOI.
