Cricket is known as a gentlemen’s game. Generally, it is a sport that does not encourage revenge and sledding. However, not every match needs to end without any fight or heat moment. There are plenty of incidents where players lose their cool. There are some moments in which players get heat in the game, and other players give it back with their performances. So, let’s look at the ten moments when players took their revenge successfully.
1. Venkatesh Prasad Vs Aamer Sohail, 1996
This match is not only one of the best India vs Pakistan World Cup matches, but it is also known for Prasad and Aamer’s iconic moment. It will be remembered as one of the best revenges taken on a cricket field. Even after 27 years, people still talk about this incident. While chasing, Pakistan got a good start, and in the 15th over, Aamer Sohail hit Prasad for a boundary. After that, he mocked Prasad. But in the next delivery, Prasad bowled him and gave him a send-off.
2. Yuvraj Singh Vs Andrew Flintoff, 2007
In this match, we saw the most destructive batting of Yuvraj Singh, as he became the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in a T20 international. At the end of the 18th over, Flintoff sledged Yuvraj. After the heated argument with Flintoff, Yuvraj Singh decided to hit every ball for a six. Stuart Broad paid the bill for Flintoff’s mistake, as he came for 19th over, and Yuvraj Singh did unimaginable thing. Sixer King Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in one over. By doing this, he broke the record of fastest 50 in T20 International.
3. Jos Buttler Vs Sheldon Cottrell, 2019
It was the 4th ODI match of the series played between England and West Indies in 2019. England bat first and scored 418 runs. But in the 47th over, Cottrell dismissed Eoin Morgon. After this, he did his Salute Celebration, by which Buttler got offended. Buttler hit the monstrous six of 107 m to Cottrell. After hitting six, he gave a salute to Cottrell and took his revenge.
4. Virat Kohli Vs Kesrick Williams, 2019
Kesrick Williams is a fast bowler of the West Indies who was famously known for his “Notebook Celebration.” During an ODI series played between India and West Indies in 2017, Kesrick Williams dismissed Virat Kohli and celebrated his wicket in notebook style. But in 2019, there was a T20 match in which Virat Kohli took his revenge by smashing Williams in almost every direction. Then, he copied the notebook celebration of Williams.
5. Harbhajan Singh Vs Shoaib Akhtar, 2010
It was one of the most thriller India vs Pakistan games, which ended in the last over. Everyone remembered this match because of a match-winning knock of Gautam Gambhir, and then Suresh played his cameo part very well. But what made it more memorable was the heated argument between Shoaib Akhtar and Bhaji. At first, Shoaib sledged Bhaji; then Bhaji took revenge by hitting six. Even in the last over, Bhaji hit the winning six of this game.
6. Sachin Tendulkar Vs Henry Olonga, 1998
Before the finals of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy, Henry Olonga dismissed Sachin Tendulkar. After dismissing him, Henry Olonga was staring at Sachin. Sachin was distraught because of the shot he played. He decided to humble Henry Olonga, and in the finals, Sachin got the chance to take his revenge. Zimbabwe set the target of 197 runs. But on that day, people saw the aggression of Sachin Tendulkar; he took his revenge by smashing Henry Olonga literally for every ball and scored a century in the finals.
7. James Anderson Vs Mitchell Johnson, 2010-11
In the most extended format of cricket, the rivalry between England and Australia is the most competitive. Both teams do everything against each other to win the match. It also happened back in the year 2010-11. In the 3rd test match of ashes, Mitchell Johnson was at the non-striker end and sledged Anderson for not taking wickets. But in the very next ball, the Striker (Ryan Harris) got clean bowled, and Anderson looked at Johnson and showed him the ‘Shush’ symbol.
8. Jonny Bairstow Vs Virat Kohli, 2022
It was the must-win game for England to draw the series. In England's 1st innings, when Jonny Bairstow was batting at 13, he had a few words exchanged with Virat Kohli. It worked as fuel for Bairstow. He got pumped up and scored a century in 1st inning. After a heated argument with Virat, he played at a strike of 117, which sounds unrealistic in test matches. He scored a century in 2nd innings and also got the "Man of the Match." India had to pay the expenses of that sledge.
9. Zaheer Khan Vs Brett Lee, 2007
We all know that the Australian team is known for their sledging and mind games. There was an incident in the match played between India and Australia in 2007. India had a target of 194 to win that match. India lost its wicket, and Zaheer came to bat. Brett Lee came to bowl, and he sledded Zaheer Khan. After that, Zaheer Khan smashed Brett Lee for a six. Brett would have never expected that a bowler would hit him for a six.
10. Virat Kohli Vs Mitchell Johnson, 2014
When it comes to taking revenge, Indian players are at the top. Be it six sixes or bowling clean bowled. Indian players never take a step back from completing their revenge. We all know Virat Kohli is the kind of player who loves to be sledged, as it fuels him to perform better. It all started in 1st test against Australia at Adelaide; when Virat Kohli was batting at 84, Mitchell Johnson threw the ball at Virat. Then, Bairstow and Kohli exchanged some words. After all this, Virat Kohli scored centuries in both innings of the test match.