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Cricketers Who Have Been Involved In Altercations (Source: X.com)
Steve Smith may have been Australia’s standout batter in their disastrous first innings against Bangladesh during the Galle Test, but it was a brutally funny remark from a fan that grabbed massive attention on social media.
Notably, Smith was battling in the middle as Australia’s lone warrior when he briefly stopped play because of an issue with the sight screen.
'Stop being a princess': Steve Smith taunted by fan on live TV
As the delay continued, one spectator appeared to lose patience and decided to give the former Australian captain a piece of his mind.
“Just hit the damn thing, Smudge (Smith’s nickname). Stop being a princess. You are not bigger than the game, Steve, deal with it,” the fan said in a video.
While Steve Smith refrained from giving a reply to the spectator’s comment, there have been several instances when cricketers lost their cool and engaged in sometimes hilarious and sometimes furious altercations.
That being said, here’s a list of such instances, where players couldn't control themselves from giving it back to provocative fans.
1) Virat Kohli altercation with fans in Wankhede Stadium (2013)
Indian stalwart Virat Kohli is famous for his intense on-field aggression, often showing fiery, animated reactions after wickets, contentious umpire calls, or heated exchanges with opponents.
Virat is also repeatedly involved in altercations with spectators on the field.
During the IPL 2011, Kohli was involved in a verbal exchange at Wankhede with a few fans who jeered him provocatively after Bangalore lost to Chennai Super Kings. A video of which had gone viral on the social media.
Also read- Virat Kohli 2.0: The Proactive, Selfless Version India Needed
Moreover, post an April 2013 Indian Premier League match at Wankhede Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ex-captain Virat Kohli publicly criticised the crowd’s hostility, reminding them that the same players, now representing different IPL franchises, would eventually go on to represent India together.
2) Jasprit Bumrah’s epic reply to a fan’s wicket request (2025)
Jasprit Bumrah is the No. 1 Test bowler in the world, and some reckon he is the best in the business across formats. Bumrah has always got wickets when the team needs them and has the uncanny ability to change the game single-handedly.
On July 14, 2025, during the Lord’s Test, Bumrah was asked by a fan to pick up a wicket. The fan said, “Jasprit, I want a wicket.” The ace pacer came up with a hilarious response, gesturing with his hands and asking the fan to come and pick up the wicket.
3) Inzamam-ul-Haq fight with spectator who called him ‘Aloo’ (1997)
On September 14, 1997, during a Sahara Cup ODI match between India and Pakistan in Toronto, a spectator named Shiv Kumar Thind used a megaphone for hours to abuse and mock Inzamam-ul-Haq, repeatedly shouting body-shaming remarks such as "aloo, aloo" (potato).
Angered past his limit while fielding near the boundary, Inzamam-ul-Haq threw off his cap, grabbed a cricket bat from a teammate, vaulted the fence into the crowd, and swung at the heckler before players and security intervened. Lastly, play was halted for roughly 40 minutes as security and officials restored order.
4) Khushdil Shah’s heated dispute in New Zealand (2025)
Pakistan cricketer Khushdil Shah was involved in a heated altercation with spectators during the third ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan in Mount Maunganui on April 6, 2025, resulting in the ejection of two spectators from the venue.
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the spectators were Afghanistan nationals shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
The incident came to light with a photograph that showed Khushdil, who wasn't playing the game, trying to go over the boundary rope after the end of the game to confront someone who wasn't pictured in the frame. He looked agitated while security held him back, purportedly to avoid a more direct confrontation.
5) Haris Rauf’s jets-downing gesture (2025)
Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf sparked controversy during the 2025 Asia Cup Super 4 match against India in Dubai by making politically charged gestures. Further, videos showed him making fighter jet crash signals and ‘6-0’ gestures towards Indian fans.
That wasn’t the only instance of him making such a gesture. He repeated it while celebrating Sanju Samson’s wicket, leading to widespread criticism and calls for a boycott.
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