Cut it off, kids are watching: Gavaskar on Ishant-Prasad spat

Sri Lankan pace bowler Dhammika Prasad and India's Ishant Sharma exchange words on Day Four of the third Test in Colombo yesterday. INSET: Sunil Gavaskar

Colombo: Indian speedster Ishant Sharma was again involved in an altercation with some Sri Lankan players during the visiting team's second innings on the fourth day of the third cricket Test here yesterday. Dhammika Prasad bowled a couple of bouncers which Ishant left alone and had a smile for the Lankan pacer.

Also Read: Here's how Ishant Sharma got into spat with Sri Lankan team


Sunil Gavaskar

A bit agitated, Prasad bowled a third bouncer which was illegal and promptly signalled no-ball by the umpire. Having exhausted his quota of two bouncers for the over, Prasad pitched one up and Ishant cut it towards point region for a single.

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But as he ran past Prasad, he started tapping his helmet with an obvious gesture to the fast bowler to try and hit him on the head. Once the run was complete, Prasad had a few words for Ishant, who was in no mood to back out and walked upto him.


Sri Lankan pace bowler Dhammika Prasad and India's Ishant Sharma exchange words on Day Four of the third Test in Colombo yesterday. Pic:AP/PTI

Almost physical...
Just when they were exchanging words angrily, Dinesh Chandimal grazed Ishant's shirt while passing. Former captain Sunil Gavaskar yesterday loathed the way Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers got involved in ugly on-field altercations, saying such incidents are poor advertisement for the sport.

"These are some of the scenes that you don't want to see. The kids are watching and international players are role models. This is just a sport which should be enjoyed. You don't want the parents to tell their kids that you should not play this sport," Gavaskar told NDTV.