Many cricketers have admitted that sledging is a part of the game now and it has to be accepted and taken in a friendly way. The structure of modern cricket and the introduction T20 leagues have allowed players to interact with fellow professionals of the opposition more than earlier times.

This has allowed a few friendly banters on the ground. This banter is often great to watch and fun for the viewer’s experience. But, there are some instances when players have trolled the opposition’s player without even saying anything. Just a cheeky smile after doing something and then calmly walking away from the sight. These battles within the battle make cricket more exciting to watch and fans truly love these moments.

Here we bring you 5 instances when a player trolled the opposition on the field:

1. Kumar Sangakkara fakes run out with Ahmed Shehzad

This incident took place in 2013 when Pakistan was playing an ODI against Sri Lanka at the Dubai international stadium. Ahmed Shehzad was batting superbly and had already scored 80 runs. He chipped one over the covers region and was looking for two runs. As he was running back for the second run, Shehzad didn’t get an opportunity to look at the fielder. He wanted to get to the crease soon to not get run-out.

However, Kumar Sangakkara had other plans. He was quick to notice that Shehzad hadn’t seen the ball and didn’t have an idea when it would actually reach the wicket-keeper. Sanga stood in front of the stumps pretending that the ball is coming towards him and made it look like the ball had reached his gloves. The fake run-out attempt made by forced Shehzad to reach his crease.

However, once Shehzad dived and fell on the ground, only then did the ball actually reach Sanga’s gloves. This cheeky attempt by the keeper left everyone in splits and he himself offered a mischievous smile to Shehzad. The Pakistan batsman scored a brilliant 124 in that match, but Sangakkara’s knock of 58 along with some healthy contribution from the others helped Sri Lanka win the game.

2. Misbah-ul-Haq’s shot towards slip

This incident is pure gold for cricket lovers. In 2015, Pakistan was hosting England for a Test series in the United Arab Emirates. Mishab-ul-Haq was the captain of the side as they were determined to take down the English team. During the second Test, Adil Rashid was bowling a long spell at the Pakistani batsman.

As the leg-spinner delivered the ball, Misbah got into a position to play a sweep shot towards the fine leg region. At this point in time, Stuart Broad, who was standing in the slip region and wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow started to move towards the leg-side to prevent the ball from running away to the fence.

However, Misbah had an idea that the fielder and the keeper are moving towards the leg stump prevent the boundary. At the very last moment, he turned his bat and played the shot towards the slip region, completely foxing the two English players. The ball didn’t go for a boundary but surely the shot made many people laugh.

3. Bairstow does a Sanga to fox Steve Smith

This incident happened quite recently during the 2019 Ashes series in England. It was the fifth Test of the series and England was looking square the series after being 2-1 behind. Steve Smith had already accumulated loads of runs during the series and was looking strong for another match-winning knock.

As far as the incident is concerned, the Aussie batsman set off for a quick single and didn’t notice the ball coming from behind. Bairstow realised that the fielder will throw the ball directly to the bowler at the non-striker’s end. But he decided to stand to the stumps and make it look like he was going to collect the ball dislodge the stumps.

Smith didn’t have any option and tried to save himself from a certain run-out. As expected he dived only to be in vain and the ball never reached Bairstow. The two players shared a laugh after this incident.

 

4. Ishant Sharma making faces to troll Steve Smith

This incident had happened in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2016-17. Australia won the first Test match in Pune and Virat Kohli and his team were under some pressure going into the second test. During the match in Bengaluru, Steve Smith was batting and Ishant Sharma was trying his best to unsettle the then Australia captain.

A few words were exchanged between the two players but mostly it was about Steve Smith’s unusual way of batting against Ishant’s bowling. After one of the deliveries from the pacer, Smith charged down the ground only to show his bat to the bowler. Smith returned to his crease but Ishant was seen making some really funny faces imitating the Aussie skipper.

Seeing this, the Indian captain Virat Kohli standing in the slips couldn’t stop himself from cracking down and laughing. The incident became quite popular on social media. Smith’s reaction to the imitation was also hilarious as the batsman just shook his head and stood his ground.

This GIf is incomplete without this: 😂 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/efw4e7AIqu

— Monica (@monicas004) August 4, 2019

 

5. Mohammed Shami gives Cottrell a salute

When Sheldon Cottrell made his debut for West Indies, his celebration after taking a wicket had become quite popular. After taking a wicket, Sheldon would always do a march and then salute to the sky. The fact that Cottrell was a part of the Jamaican army was the reason behind this unique celebration.

During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match between India and the West Indies, Sheldon had done it once again. In that tournament, his iconic celebration had become quite popular because he was taking lots of wickets and celebrating this way every time.

Against India, when Cottrell got out and was walking back to the dressing room, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine. As the West Indian started to walk, Shami gave him a salute mocking his celebration.

pic.twitter.com/y7SvClrLa5

— Abhishek Gupta (@KrishnaAbhish3k) June 27, 2019