Top 5 'aggressive' moments in the T20 World Cup

A World Cup is the biggest tournament across sports and cricket is no exception. Every cricketer dreams of participating in a World Cup. Since 2007, T20 World Cup has also become a regular occurrence along with the 50-over World Cup.

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Amidst all the heart-warming performances in the perennial tournament, there have also been some aggressive moments on the field. The players have got into verbal altercations and on that note, we take you through 5 of the most aggressive incidents in the history of the 20-20 World Cup.

1. Yuvraj Singh’s on-field spat with Andrew Flintoff in the T20 World Cup 2007

Andrew Flintoff and Yuvraj Singh: (Image Source: Twitter)

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Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes off six deliveries to Stuart Broad is one of the most iconic moments in the history of the 20-20 World Cup. But before smashing Stuart Broad to all parts of the ground, Singh was involved in a heated argument with Andrew Flintoff which got the former heated up.

The Indian all-rounder, later, re-called the entire incident on an Instagram live with Kevin Pietersen.

“I think Freddie bowled two good balls and he bowled a yorker which I managed to hit for a boundary. Then he told me that this was a dash shot, he got pretty elaborative. He said I am gonna cut your throat off and then I replied saying you see this bat in my hand? You know where I am gonna hit you with this bat? I remember I was so angry when I hit Broadie for six sixes, I looked at Dimitri Mascarenas and then I looked at Freddie,” Yuvraj Singh said.

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2. S Sreesanth’s 'slapping the ground' celebration after picking Mathew Hayden’s wicket in the 2007 T20 World Cup

S Sreesanth: (Image Source: Twitter)

S Sreesanth was part of India’s squad for the 2007 20-20 World Cup squad. His best performance came in the semi-final match against Australia. In a high-scoring game, he conceded only 12 runs in the first two overs against an aggressive duo of Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden. 

Australia looked favourites to win the game when Sreesanth was brought back to bowl the 15th over. Mathew Hayden was looking in gorgeous touch and India needed to get rid of him to get themselves back into the game. Sreesanth, who earlier sent Gilchrist back to the hut, rattled the stumps of Mathew Hayden. 

It was followed by a euphoric celebration as he slapped the pitch and fist punch as Hayden passed. It is one of the most aggressive celebrations in the history of the event. 

“Dhoni bhai motivated me. He said you keep showing your aggression here and there; now do it against Australia,” Sreesanth said on YouTube channel Cow Corner Chronicles with Chandresh. “I think it worked like a key mechanism for me because I got fired up at the right time. The first ball, Hayden hit me for a boundary because I tried a yorker. That was the plan because I had seen Shoaib Akhtar get him out to the same ball.”

3. That comment from Stokes which ignited the fire in Samuels in the T20 World Cup 2016 final

Marlon Samuels and Ben Stokes: (Image Source: Twitter)

England and West Indies locked horns with each other in the final of the 2016 20-20 World Cup. Chasing a 155-run target, Samuels came onto to bat as early as in the second over. West Indies had lost 3 wickets and were losing confidence. However, it was Ben Stokes’ comment which fired up Marlon Samuels and he went on to play one of the best knocks of his career. 

‘When Marlon came in at 11-3, came to bowl and he said something like ‘you guys, I would like to see you come out of this one” and Marlon was just taking his time, making sure. That comment, whatever said to him as he walked in, that got him really focussed.” Darren Sammy said revealed the match.

 Samuels went on to play an unbeaten knock of 85 runs, helping West Indies clinch their second 20-20 World Cup title. 

4. Lahiru Kumara and Liton Das ugly spat in the T20 World Cup 2021

Liton Das and Lahiru Kumara: (Image Source: Twitter)

Amidst all the heart-warming performances in the 20-20 World Cup 2021, there were also some heated altercations between the players. On top of the list was Sri Lakan pacer, Lahiru Kumara’s verbal spat with Liton Das. 

During the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Kumara got into a verbal altercation with Liton Das. The two had an exchange of words and an angry stare-off. There was some pushing and shoving involved as well.

The umpires, Sri Lanka players and the other Bangladesh opener, Mohammad Naim, eventually had to separate the two to prevent the situation from escalating.

5. Haris Rauf’s nasty bouncer hit Bas de Leede on the grill of his helmet in the T20 World Cup 2022  

Bas de Leede: (Image Source: Twitter)

Playing their third match in the ongoing 20-20 World Cup 2022, Pakistan earned their first win with a 6-wicket win against the Netherlands at Perth. The match, however, will fondly be remembered for Haris Rauf bowling a nasty bouncer to Bas de Leede.

On the fifth ball of the sixth over, Haris Rauf surprised de Leede with a cruel bouncer which hit him on the grill of his helmet. On a fast surface at Perth, the ball came pretty quickly to the Netherlands batter and it caused an ugly cut below his right eye. 

The team physio immediately came at the ground to check the severity of the injury. de Leede had to be taken off the ground and he sat in the dugout during the rest of the game. After the match, the Netherlands batter was taken to hospital for check-up.