A batter in cricket has the tough task of keeping his head cool and making the right decisions for his team when under pressure. However, it is not everyone’s cup of tea to stay focused, especially when someone from the opposition team whispers something in their ears.
Over the years, we have seen several batters lose their wickets after they were sledged by the bowler or the fielders of opposition team. However, there have also been such instances when a batter replied to the sledging with a six. Here’s a list of four such instances.
1. Manish Pandey, IPL 2020
During a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020, Virat Kohli tried to pull his former U-19 teammate Manish Pandey’s leg by telling, “Aaj nhi maar rahe shot (You are not playing shots today.)” Soon after, Pandey blasted a maximum off Mohammad Siraj’s bowling.
2. S Sreesanth, 2006/07
1st test at Jo'burg.
— Zara bae❤️ (@zaaara36) December 7, 2018
Sreesanth walks onto bat.
Andre Nel provoked Sreesanth By saying many things.
And the next ball Sreesanth
stepped out of crease and
Hit for six and danced.#SreesanthThePrideOfIndia pic.twitter.com/6AWj6loZnN
During India’s tour of South Africa in 2006/07, Sreesanth had a war of words with South African pacer Andre Nel. Soon after, Sreesanth, who was a tail-ender, smacked one ball from Nel out of the park. He twirled his bat in the air and celebrated the six in a way only he can.
3. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag
During a match against Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar tried to provoke Virender Sehwag by asking him to smash a hook shot off his bouncer. Sehwag told him bowl a delivery like that to Sachin Tendulkar, and he will show you. Tendulkar hit a six off Akhtar’s bowling. “Baap, baap hota hai,” (The dad is the dad) Sehwag told Akhtar after that.
4. Viv Richards
Regarded by many as one of the best of all time, Viv Richards was sledged by Greg Thomas during a county match in England. Richards missed a few deliveries from him and then heard “It’s red, it’s round. Now f*** hit it!”. Richards lost his cool and hit the next ball out of the park, into the river. “You know what it looks like now go and get it,” the Caribbean batter replied.
