Indian wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel and Australian veteran Matthew Hayden became close friends during their three-year stint together with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
However, it wasn’t the same during the 2004 VB Series in Australia when Parthiv tried to sledge Hayden, and the latter threatened to punch him in the face.
During one of the matches in the Tri-series featuring India, Australia and Zimbabwe, Hayden was dismissed by Irfan Pathan after he scored a hundred. Parthiv, carrying drinks as the 12th man, in his excitement, mocked Hayden who was on his way back to the pavilion.
“I was carrying drinks in Brisbane. It was the match in which Irfan Pathan got him out. He had already scored a hundred, and it was a crucial stage when Irfan got him out. And I was just passing him by and I did a “hoo hoo” to him,” Parthiv stated on Fever Network’s initiative 100 Hours 100 Stars video.
In return, Hayden waited for Parthiv in the dressing room in Brisbane and threatened him that if he repeated his antics, he would get his face punched.
“He got so angry at me. He was standing at the Brisbane dressing room which is like a tunnel. He was standing there, and he said ‘if you do this again, I will punch your face’. I said ‘sorry’, I stood around and he went off,” added Parthiv.
Since then, they have had a cordial relationship, after developing friendship as CSK openers. Parthiv recalled the time Hayden prepared ‘Biryani’ and ‘dal’ for him.
“Yeah, Hayden wanted to beat me up in Brisbane. But we became good friends after that and played a lot of cricket together at CSK. Also, we enjoyed each other’s company. Opening the batting was fun with him. We’ve had good times off the field as well. So we patched up after that Brisbane incident,” the 35-year-old continued.
“Even after the IPL finished, I went to Australia with an emerging side. Hayden called me home, prepared chicken biryani and dal for me,” Parthiv concluded.
