India's brutal hammering by a margin of 10 wickets in the Adelaide Test has been a major talking point in recent times. But it is not the only subject that is dominating the headlines. Siraj's on-field verbal spat with Head has been buzzing the internet for quite some time now. This incident has sparked strong reactions from several cricketing legends (retired and present) from both nations.

While a vast majority of the viewers held critical views on the on-field controversy, the ICC quickly sprung into action to settle the issue once and for all. As a form of punishment, Siraj received one demerit point and was docked 20% of his match fees. However, on the flip side, Head got away with one demerit point and was surprisingly not charged with any monetary fines as was the case with Siraj. 

See also: ICC punishes Siraj and Head for their on-field incident

Bhajji not impressed as ICC imposes harsh fine on Siraj  

While speaking to Star Sports, Harbhajan was visibly not pleased with ICC's decision to punish Siraj on financial grounds and expressed his displeasure about the same.  

“Well, I think ICC is a bit too strict on players. These things happen in the ground. Obviously, forget what has happened and move forward. The players have patched up and talked to each other. Anyways, ICC being ICC has sanctioned the players. Let’s put that aside now and let’s move forward which is obviously, Brisbane. Let’s focus on cricket rather than all these controversies. Enough is enough." 

However, in the end, he stressed that the matter should not prolong much further as the ICC has passed a resolution and the two players reportedly patched up right after the end of the second Test. Furthermore, he urges the cricketing fraternity to now shift their focus to bigger aspects of the game that have the potential to define the outcome of the series. 

Piyush Chawla in alignment with Harbhajan Singh's viewpoint on this saga  

Indian spinner Piyush Chawla also extended his support to Harbhajan Singh on this recent controversy, suggesting that the matter should be closed since the ICC has acted on it. According to him, it is difficult to ascertain what exactly was said during that moment, and believes that there is no point in picking sides. 

"You can't really say who was wrong, who was right here. What I feel is that this should be the end of this thing right now. There's no on this thing to the next match or the fourth test match, and just that, what I feel personally is, that things will definitely get heated from the next Test match again, but what incident happened here, should leave it here in Adelaide." 

India received a crushing blow after their defeat in Adelaide by 10 wickets. Besides, South Africa's 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka have thrown them out of the top two positions in the WTC table. With so much at stake, India's upcoming Test match in Brisbane will be of paramount importance.  

Veteran India batter Virat Kohli is training hard in the nets before the 3rd Test vs Australia. And, former India player Harbhajan Singh opened up on the critical changes he made. However, Virat Kohli was working on his back-foot game as he prepared for the Brisbane Test. Meanwhile, the Gabba pitch will also have a lot of pace and bounce to offer and the batters need to have a strong back-foot game to counter attack as well.

Virat Kohli scored a hundred in the first Test

Harbhajan Singh, who has played with Kohli, said that he has been a front-foot batter but he is working on his back-foot game to handle the bounce in the Gabba as well.

"Yes, whatever little I have seen him batting in the nets today. I have played a lot of crcket with him. He is a front foot player. Knowing the bounce on Indian soil, you have to be on your front foot. The people who have played here, the likes of Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Langer, Hayden. They were good back foot players, because of the bounce. It is the kind of bounce you get in Australia, you have to be good player of bounce. You need to have a good backfoot game. That's what he was practising," Harbhajan tols Star Sports.

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma reveals KL Rahul's batting position in Adelaide Test

"He was playig a lot of deliveries on the backfoot" - Harbhajan Singh on Virat Kohli

However, Harbhajan Singh is hoping for Virat Kohli to bounce back in the 3rd Test after a failure at one of his favourite grounds in Adelaide. Notably, Kohli smashed a hundred in the first Test as well.

"Specifically I have noticed today. He was playig a lot of deliveries on the backfoot. He was going forward for the fuller ball but those balls which were slightly shorter than the length of full ball, he was either leaving or trying to play them. The ball from the back foot, he knows that Gabba will be a different wicket where he will get to face a lot of bounce and pace and that back foot game needs to be included in his game. Good to see him working on the game. I am sure, knowing Virat Kohli, we have seen him making a comeback after every setback," he concluded.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the on-field rivalries fans wait to watch. Over the years, the series witnessed several controversial moments, including India's tour Down Under in 2008-09. This particular series is also remembered for the controversial Sydney Test, involving veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh and the late Andrew Symonds as well.

“There were a lot of edges but Bucknor saab didn’t give anything out" - Harbhajan Singh

The 'Monkeygate' incident involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds made headlines, where all the umpires involved came under the scanner for giving several controversial calls as well. And, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has now recalled memories from that Test, saying that umpire Steve Bucknor made his debut for Australia in that series. He had given Symonds not out when he had clearly edged the ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni as well.

“There were a lot of edges but Bucknor saab didn’t give anything out. There were edges, there were appeals, and at one point Ricky Ponting caught one and gave it out himself," Harbhajan Singh said while doing Hindi commentary for Star Sports. "In that series, Bucknor made his debut for Australia. He played so well in that match for them. The only thing he was interested in was being the 12th man," he added.

SEE ALSO: Pat Cummins slams commentators for creating headlines using Josh Hazlewood

Steve Bucknor had opened up on making umpiring errors

During the Sydney Test way back in 2008, Steve Bucknor also did not refer a stumping call to the third umpire as well. However, replays clearly showed that the then wicketkeeper MS Dhoni took off the bails in time to catch Andrew Symonds out of the crease as well. However, there were several other umpiring errors in the Sydney Test. Moreover, Mark Benson had given Ricky Ponting not out when he had edged Sourav Ganguly's delivery down the legside as well.

On the other hand, veteran Australian batter Michael Clarke also took a low catch of Sourav Ganguly in the final innings, but the replays showed that the Australian had touched the ball on the ground. And, veteran Ricky Ponting had famously raised his finger back then, asking the umpire to give it out.

Earlier, in 2020, Steve Bucknor had given away a couple of errors he had made in that Test as well.

“I made two mistakes in the Sydney Test in 2008,” he told Mid-Day. “Mistake one, which happened when India were doing well, allowed an Australian batsman to get a hundred. Mistake two, on day five, might have cost India the game. But still, they are two mistakes over five days. Was I the first umpire to make two mistakes in a Test? Still, those two mistakes seem to have haunted me," he added.

However, Steve Bucknor was eventually removed from umpiring the third Test in Perth by ICC. The umpiring howlers had shown India losing the Sydney Test by 122 runs as well.

When Australia and India face off on the cricket pitch, spectators are treated to a lot of drama in addition to the actual action. The India vs Australia Test series is nothing without a spice of controversies, making it one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in cricket history. The series often makes the cricket news headlines for different reasons and the search for fantasy tips during this series is proof of that. Although match prediction talks in favour of a certain team during each match, the India-Australia clash remains a high-voltage one every time the two sides take on each other. 

Over the years, these fiery encounters have tested the players’ skills, temperament, and sportsmanship under intense scrutiny. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has seen many contentious and unpleasant situations throughout the years of the bilateral clash.  India will seek to make it three Test series wins in a row in Australia, while Australia will be looking to win a Test series against India for the first time in ten years in the current edition. Through this listicle, the cricketwinner team revisits the five biggest controversial moments from the realms of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.

See Also: Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Top 5 Memorable Test matches played at the Adelaide Oval

Former India player turned commentator Harbhajan Singh said that he and MS Dhoni do not talk to each other. While speaking to News18, the spin maestro has revealed that while he does not have a problem with the former India captain MS Dhoni, he and the former India captain are not friends anymore.

Harbhajan Singh played under MS Dhoni's captaincy for India and CSK

However, both Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni were integral parts of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup as well. While Dhoni led the team in both editions brilliantly, Harbhajan stepped up with 7 and 9 wickets in respective tournaments as well.

The spinner also shared that he and MS Dhoni did not speak outside the field during their years at the Chennai Super Kings as well. However, both of them played for the Chennai-based franchise where the spinner played between 2018-2020. He further shared that he only rings those people who pick up his calls.

SEE ALSO: Travis Head names one of the greatest pacers of the game

"I don't have anything against him" - Harbhajan Singh on MS Dhoni

"No, I don't speak to Dhoni. When I was playing at CSK, that's when we spoke, but otherwise, we haven't spoken. It's been 10 years and more. I have no reason; perhaps he does. I don't know what the reasons are. When we were playing in the IPL at CSK, that's when we used to talk, and that, too, was restricted to the ground. After that, he did not come to my room, nor did I go to his," Harbhajan Singh told News18.

"I don't have anything against him. If he has something to say, he can tell me. But if he did, he would have told me by now. I never tried to call him because I have a lot of passion. I only ring up those who pick up my calls. I don't have the time otherwise. I stay in touch with the ones I am friends with. A relationship is always about give and take. If I respect you, I hope you will respect me back. Or you respond to me. But if I call you once or twice but don't get a response, I will probably only meet you as much as I am needed to," the spinner concluded.

However, the last time Harbhajan Singh and MS Dhoni represented India together was way back in 2015 – in an ODI against South Africa. After the 2015 World Cup as well. While he did not play after 2015, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2021 as well.

The rivalry between India and Australia in Test cricket is one of the most celebrated contests in the sport. With a history dating back to 1947-48, this clash has produced unforgettable matches, marked by exceptional performances from legendary players. While batsmen often take the spotlight, bowlers play an equally critical role in securing victories in the longest format of the game.

Indian bowlers, both spinners and pacers, have risen to the challenge against Australia, delivering spellbinding performances that have etched their names in cricketing history. Here’s a look at the top five Indian bowlers with the most wickets against Australia in Test cricket.

5. Kapil Dev – 79 wickets

India’s first World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was a masterful all-rounder who thrived against Australia. In 20 Tests between 1979 and 1992, Kapil claimed 79 wickets at an impressive average of 25.35. His fiery spell of 8/106 in Adelaide during the 1985-86 series remains etched in memory, as he dismantled a strong Australian batting lineup led by Allan Border.

4. Ravindra Jadeja – 89 wickets

A modern-day maestro, Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as a consistent performer against Australia. In 17 Tests, Jadeja has taken 89 wickets at an average of 18.89, showcasing his ability to excel in both Indian and Australian conditions. His 7/42 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium in 2023 stands out as one of the most dominant spells in recent history, helping India secure a resounding victory.

3. Harbhajan Singh – 95 wickets
Harbhajan Singh’s magical spells against Australia earned him the nickname "The Turbanator." In 18 Tests, he picked 95 wickets, highlighted by his stunning performance in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With 32 wickets in three matches, including a memorable hat-trick at Kolkata, Harbhajan proved to be Australia’s nemesis time and again. His best figures of 8/84 underline his dominance over the mighty Aussies.

2. Anil Kumble – 111 wickets

Anil Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, was a force to be reckoned with against Australia. Over 20 matches, he scalped 111 wickets, including 10 five-wicket hauls. Kumble’s precision and ability to exploit spin-friendly conditions made him Australia’s biggest challenge. His iconic 8/141 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the 2003-04 tour remains one of the finest spells by an Indian bowler Down Under.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin – 114 wickets

Sitting at the top of the list is Ravichandran Ashwin, who has taken 114 wickets in 22 Tests against Australia. Known for his tactical brilliance and versatility, Ashwin’s standout performance came in Chennai in 2013, where he recorded figures of 7/103 and 5/95. With an impressive mix of spin variations, Ashwin continues to trouble Australian batters both at home and away, cementing his legacy as one of India’s finest.

India’s bowlers have played a pivotal role in scripting historic victories against Australia. From Kapil Dev’s fiery pace to Ashwin’s guileful spin, these legends have consistently delivered match-winning performances. Their ability to adapt to vastly different conditions in India and Australia has made the rivalry thrilling to watch.

See Also: The Future of KL Rahul: Opportunities and Challenges

As India and Australia continue to produce epic battles on the field, the legacy of these iconic bowlers serves as a reminder of the importance of taking 20 wickets to win a Test match. With each series, new stars emerge, but the contributions of these stalwarts will forever remain an integral part of this storied rivalry.

Cricket is frequently regarded as a religion in India and is far more popular than any other sport, with fans eager to see their favourite players perform well. In the past, fans saw several players involved in issues that shook the cricket community and became global discussion points.

Cricket history has witnessed several incidents involving foreign and domestic players, shaking the sport and becoming a hot topic among millions of cricket fans. Indian cricketers have also been involved in various similar confrontations and scandals. On that point, let us look at the top five controversies in Indian cricket history.

The 2000 Match-fixing story

The match-fixing incident of 2000 shocked the whole cricketing community. The incident occurred during the South African team’s 2000 tour to India when Delhi police overheard a conversation between a bookmaker and Proteas captain Hansie Cronje while listening to criminal discussions. The theme of the talk was match-fixing.

Much to the amazement of the cricketing community, Delhi Police filed a case against Cronje, who later denied the claims. Later, the South African cricket authority established the King’s Commission to investigate, and prominent figures such as the then-Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, and famed all-rounder Ajay Jadeja were added to the match-fixing list. According to a dossier presented by the CBI, Mohammad Azharuddin also introduced former South African captain Hansie Cronje to a gang of bookmakers.

Greg Chappell vs Sourav Ganguly

Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly had the worst captain-coach conflict in Indian cricket history, and it was undoubtedly one of the worst in Indian cricket textbooks. It all began during India’s tour of Zimbabwe when Chappell urged that Ganguly be dismissed from the Indian test team. He also claimed that Ganguly is neither psychologically or physically prepared to head the Indian squad. Ganguly also criticised himself for recommending Greg Chappell as India’s coach.

Following the Zimbabwe trip, the leading selectors decided to remove Ganguly as captain, and he was eventually sacked from the ODI team as well. The decision to drop Ganguly from the Indian team did not go well with Indian supporters, who burned Chappell’s effigies and protested on the streets. His notorious tenure as Indian head coach ended when the Men in Blue were eliminated from the 2007 World Cup in the group round.

The Monkeygate Incident: Harbhajan Singh vs Andrew Symonds

The controversial clash between India’s reliable spinner, Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s top all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, a.k.a, the Monkeygate incident, occurred during India’s 2008 tour of Australia and is regarded as one of the most significant scandals in Indian cricket history.

The incident saw a confrontation between Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second match at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. It reached the point where the tourists chose to withdraw from the trip before the ICC constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the situation. Next, the committee’s investigation, Harbhajan Singh’s three-match Test suspension was removed, and India won the next Test match.

Also Read: “I’m sure we’re going to be on the same page” – Gautam Gambhir on Virat Kohli

IPL & Spot-fixing

This controversy shocked millions of cricket fans in India after learning that the Indian Premier League 2013 season had been tarnished by spot-fixing and betting events. Two well-known IPL franchises, the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, were banned for two years in a row due to their involvement in the betting scam.

On the other hand, the Delhi Police detained three Rajasthan Royals players, S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan, for spot-fixing accusations in the IPL. The team’s owners, Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, were arrested, and both CSK and RR franchises were suspended for two years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) closely checks the competition to ensure no such disputes arise.

Virat Kohli vs Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble’s dismissal as head coach of the Indian cricket team in 2017 remains one of the most contentious issues in Indian cricket. Following India’s defeat against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, Kumble was sacked as the team’s head coach. Kumble was asked to resign after only one year as the team’s head coach.

At the time, various publications highlighted conflicts between Kohli and Kumble as the primary cause for his dismissal as head coach. The captain and head coach were apparently at odds, which resulted in the dramatic firing. According to reports, Kohli was contacted when the authorities decided to extend the coach’s employment, but he stated that Kumble’s tutoring made junior players feel “intimidated”.

Indian cricket legend Harbhajan Singh issued a clarification after he and fellow members of the India Champions team were criticized by disability rights groups for allegedly mocking people with disabilities in a viral video. The video, shared on Instagram, was posted after India Champions defeated Pakistan Champions by five wickets in the World Championship of Legends final.

The video features cricket icons Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina limping and holding their backs, presumably in jest, following their title-winning run. This portrayal, however, drew significant backlash from disability rights advocates who found the video offensive.

Harbhajan responds to criticism

Taking to Twitter, Harbhajan Singh addressed the controversy surrounding the video. He explained that the social media post was not intended to mock people with disabilities but was a light-hearted moment among the players after an intense match. Harbhajan’s detailed message aimed to clear the air and apologize to those who were offended by the video.

The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled condemned the post as “totally disgraceful.” Arman Ali, the executive director at the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to address the issue. Additionally, a police complaint has been filed against the former Team India stars involved in the video.

‘We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments…’

“Just wanted to clear to our people who are complaining about our recent videos of Tauba Tauba on social media after winning the championship here in England. We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments. We respect every individual and community. And this video was just to reflect to our bodies after playing continues cricket for 15 days. SORE bodies.. we r not trying to insult or offend anyone.. still if people think we hv done something wrong ..All I can say from my side. SORRY to everyone .. plz let’s stop this here and move forward. Stay happy and healthy. Love to all. Regards,” Harbhajan said.

See Also: West Indies head coach urges team to channel Gabba spirit and boost intensity – Cricket Winner

The incident highlights the importance of sensitivity and awareness regarding disability representation in media. Harbhajan Singh’s response underscores the need for public figures to be mindful of their influence and the impact of their actions on diverse communities.

Manasi Joshi, a top para-badminton champion, openly criticized Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina for their lack of awareness and sensitivity in a video they posted. She stressed the need to understand and respect the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina, former India cricketers, are facing backlash after Manasi Joshi accused them of mocking the way people with disabilities walk.

Manasi, a former world no. 1 in her SL3 badminton category, called out the cricketers for their insensitive Instagram reel posted after their win against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends tournament.

Harbhajan shared a video on Sunday showing the ex-India players limping and dancing to the Bollywood song “Tauba Tauba” after the match. India Champions, led by Ambati Rayudu’s 50 run performance, chased a 157 run target in the final over.

“Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket. Every part of the body is sore,” Harbhajan wrote.

The controversial reel

Joshi, an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities, expressed her disappointment and anger over the insensitive content.

Manasi Joshi’s advocacy and response

“Wanted more responsibility from the stars that you all are, please do not mock at the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny.

“You don’t know how much harm your behaviour can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is ok to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs. More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel. If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for public platform,” Manasi wrote

“This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking the gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India,” Manasi added.

India’s ace batsman, Virat Kohli, is gearing up to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pre-season camp ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. According to reports from India Today, Kohli is slated to link up with the team before March 17th.

Kohli’s Return: Key milestone in IPL 2024 preparation

Kohli’s arrival coincides with RCB’s annual ‘Unbox’ promotional event on March 19th at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This timing aligns with the team’s preparations before their first match against CSK in Chennai on March 22nd.

The IPL 2024 season marks Kohli’s return to competitive cricket after a hiatus of two and a half months. His last appearance was during the T20I series against Afghanistan. Following the T20 World Cup 2022, Kohli made a comeback in the T20Is, featuring in the three-match series.

Initially named in the Indian squad for the Test series against England, Kohli withdrew at the eleventh hour due to family commitments. It later emerged that his wife had given birth to their second child in London.

The upcoming IPL holds significant importance for Kohli amidst speculation surrounding his T20I future. Some reports indicate doubts over his selection for the T20 World Cup 2024, with selectors allegedly expressing reservations.

According to reports, selectors believe that the slower pitches in the West Indies may not align with Virat Kohli’s playing style, prompting discussions about making room for younger talents. Consequently, the impending IPL 2024 holds immense significance for Kohli as it may influence his inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Kohli is eager to leave a substantial mark in the tournament. As the IPL’s top run-scorer and a formidable force for his team, he aims to lead them to their inaugural title victory in the league.

Harbhajan Singh: Virat Kohli needs a season similar to 2016

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh suggests that for IPL 2024, Virat Kohli must be ready to bat for the entire 20 overs. Singh believes that if Kohli achieves this, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could deliver a match-winning performance.

Singh emphasized the importance of Kohli replicating his stellar 2016 season, during which he amassed 973 runs. The former off-spinner asserted that such a performance from Kohli could significantly bolster RCB’s chances of success. Speaking to Star Sports, Singh elaborated.

SEE ALSO:Birthday boy Siraj opens up about considering quitting cricket in 2019

“Should Kohli commit to batting for the full 20 overs, he could deliver a match-winning performance. Achieving two centuries at the Chinnaswamy Stadium doesn’t guarantee the same outcome at Chepauk.”

“It’s crucial for him to replicate a season similar to 2016, as his runs will propel the team forward. Whether this will lead to winning the cup remains uncertain.”The IPL 2024 opener is scheduled between RCB and CSK on March 22nd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.