It wasn’t just the on-field stoush between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his Australian counterpart Tim Paine when the players from either team made news because of things other than their cricketing performances.
A video shows two Indian players involved in a heated argument and wagging fingers at each other, forcing their teammates to intervene to break up the ‘fight’.
Indian paceman Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja - who was a substitute fielder during Australia’s second innings on Monday - are seen engrossed in an animated discussion reportedly over filed placement.
Mohammed Shami who was getting ready to bowl his over and spinner Kuldeep Yadav who brought drinks had to intervene to separate the two who were visibly angry and seemed to exchange menacing glances and words.
The video showed the Indian pace spearhead and his compatriot facing off one another, pointing fingers and having a go at each other in expletive-riddled Hindi.
India's Ishant Sharma walks off after being dismissed in the second cricket test between Australia and India in Perth Dec. 18, 2018. Source: AAP
The vision was captured by the official broadcaster Seven Network’s camera. Though the stump microphone also captured the audio of the verbal duel between the two Indian players, it wasn’t broadcast.
However, some media outlets claiming to have access to the audio are reporting that the argument started over field placement with Ishant telling Ravindra Jadeja not to wave his hands at him. "If you want something, come to me and say it."
"Don't wave your hand at me. Don't take out your anger on me. I'll take your anger and shove it up you’re a***. I will shove your anger up you’re a***,” reported.
"Don't tell me also. Don't talk bullsh*t."
Australia beat India by 146 run in the Perth Test and the incident of two of the visiting team members having a go at one another in an on-field spat has sparked discussions about “infighting” within the team.
The Indian team sought to downplay it as a ‘spur of the moment’ incident.
"The Indian team management clarifies that the incident between Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja was in no way a 'fight' and happened at the spur of the moment on the field. The management confirms that all is well between them," a team spokesperson said on Tuesday evening.
While the first Test of the series at Adelaide remained incident-free with both teams refraining from any verbal spats, the second Test match has seen a fair share sledging.
Virat Kohli (left) of India leaves the field after losing the Test on day five of the second Test match between Australia and India at Perth Stadium. Source: AAP
Earlier on day 3 of the match, the two captains were involved in a verbal stoush while the Australian skipper was on the crease and Kohli fired the verbal salvos.
It was reported in the media that Kohli said he was “the best player in the world” while Paine was just a “stand-in captain”.
However, the BCCI said that it had sought a clarification from the team management and found the reports “baseless”.
“It is ‘assumed’ that Kohli said, ‘I am the best player in the world and you are just a stand-in captain’.
“These claims were based on hearsay and the BCCI would like to bring into notice that no such words were spoken on the field by the Indian captain.”
