Sri Lanka vs India: What made Ishant Sharma angry at Dhammika Prasad?

Aggressive Ishant Sharma vs Sri Lanka

After getting a barrage of bouncers from Dhammika Prasad, Ishant Sharma replied in a manner which not many would have expected him to. A docile cricketer on most days, Ishant was unusually aggressive today, as he let loose a series of verbal volleys at the Sri Lankans.

Ishant came in to bat for India on the fourth day of the final Test at number 11; it was the 77th over of India’s second innings. Prasad bowled two continuous bouncers and the umpires were quick to warn him of his limits.

But the third ball of the over Prasad again bowled a bouncer, and this time it was called a no-ball by the umpire. Ishant gave Prasad a smile in return which seemed to anger Prasad a lot.

Things soon started turning ugly. The next ball was played away for a single, but while going past Prasad, Ishant gestured to the Sri Lankan to bowl one on his head by tapping his helmet. Soon, Dinesh Chandimal joined in the argument and had a few words with Ishant. The umpires soon had to intervene and stop things from going out of hand.

In the last ball of the same over, Ravichandran Ashwin got out and Ishant started to run towards the pavilion to get ready to bowl, but the brawl didn’t end there. Prasad chased Ishant who stormed off to the dressing room. They exchanged a few words over there as well.

Here’s a illustrated story of the episode:

1. After two continuous bouncers

2. Aata majhi satakli! (Now I'm going crazy)

3. You run, I’ll chase

Hope Ishant is OK! #IndvsSL https://t.co/7HAs46Zwyx

— Pramod Ananth (@pramz) August 31, 2015

A long-running argument?

But was there any deeper reason for all this? It all started during Sri Lanka’s first innings when Rangana Herath came out to bat with the home team in a miserable condition. Ishant bowled a few bouncers to Herath and continuously teased him with his aggression.

Herath also smashed Ishant for a few runs and the duo exchanged some words and a stare. In the end, it was Ishant who got the better of Herath, as he sent a couple of kisses after dismissing the veteran cricketer.

Hearth and Ishant exchanging words