10 most arrogant statements by cricketers

It is shocking that many world-class players and absolute legends of the game have gone on to make arrogant statements.

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Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Ashwin
Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: Instagram and BCCI)

Cricketers should always be remembered for their game on the field. Their main job is to play for their team and ensure that they give their best on the field. However having said this, a few cricketers are considered as role models and are idolized by many fans.

As idols and role models, one must expect them to be nice and not influence anyone in a bad manner. However, many cricketers have forgotten the fact that they’re public figures and have gone on to make arrogant statements. Arrogant statements always lead to controversies.

It is shocking that many world-class players and absolute legends of the game have gone on to make arrogant statements. So which are those cricketers who have gone on to make avoidable statements which have lead to controversies? Let’s take a look at-

Most arrogant statements given out by cricketers

1) Shoaib Akhtar- Even today, 3 hurting bouncers, I Can dismiss Steve Smith in 4 balls Lol’

Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar. (Photo Source: YouTube)

Popularly known as “Rawalpindi Express”, Shoaib Akhtar is a legend, to say the least. It is safe to say that he is one of the fastest bowlers to have ever played the game. However, he has often grabbed the headlines for unnecessary controversies.

The 44-year old quick was responding to an ESPNcricinfo poll on Twitter where the cricket website paired 20 players — former and current — with each other and asked fans to pick one contest they would love to watch. Among them, was Steve Smith, who happens to be one of the best batsmen of the modern era as well as a run machine. Shoaib Akhtar replied to this tweet and said that he could get Steve Smith out in 4 balls.

“Even today, 3 hurting bouncers, and I can dismiss @stevesmith49 on the 4th ball. Lol,” Akhtar said in a tweet. The tweet wasn’t taken in a positive way by cricket fans and he was brutally trolled on social media for his tweet. No matter how fast and legendary Akhtar is, he should have thought twice before casually saying that he can dismiss an absolute genius like Steve Smith in 4 balls.

2) Marlon Samuels- Give me 14 days with your wife and I’ll turn her into a Jamaican

Ben Stokes and Marlon Samuels
Ben Stokes and Marlon Samuels. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

People normally associate West Indies (WI) players as nice guys. Seldom would you see a WI player cross the line? However, this wasn’t the case with Marlon Samuels as he went on to get a lot of hate for his arrogant and cheap statement.

The former WI all-rounder went on an offensive rant against the English all-rounder Ben Stokes. He even dragged Ben’s wife into this! Stokes was interacting to an IPL podcast and said that he wouldn’t even want his worst enemy to undergo a 14- day quarantine. The Rajasthan Royals all-rounder said that he was texting his brother and his brother asked him if he wouldn’t even want a 14-day quarantine on Marlon Samuels to which Stokes said “No, it’s that bad, that’s how tough it was”.

Samuels took offense to this statement. “No white boy could diss me in the sports and no get back diss look at this b*tch still thinking about me give me 14 days with you wife turn har into Jamaican in 14 seconds mate none of yall know me that simply means it’s my f***ing superior skin tone (sic),” he wrote on his Instagram stories, responding to a post by ESPNcricinfo. Samuels was massively criticized by the entire cricketing fraternity and shouldn’t have used those words.

3) Gautam Gambhir- Kohli is lucky to be retained as RCB captain

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (Photo Source: Instagram and IPL/BCCI)

Gambhir and controversies often go hand in hand. Gambhir has always been in the spotlight for making controversial statements. This time, he grabbed the headlines for speaking about Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The former Indian opener had questioned Kohli’s captaincy tactics in a very hostile manner. He felt that Kohli was lucky to be retained as the RCB captain. He said this just before IPL 2019. “I don’t see him as a shrewd captain. I don’t see him as a tactful captain [tactician]. And he hasn’t won the IPL. So ultimately, a captain is only as good as his record.” Gambhir said this during Star Sports’ show known as “Game Plan”.

“There are people who have won the trophy three times. MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. So I think he has a long way to go. You cannot compare him to someone like Rohit or Dhoni at this stage because he has been part of RCB, and captaining RCB for the last seven to eight years, and he has been very lucky and should be thanking the franchise that they stuck with him because not many captains have got such a long rope where they haven’t won a tournament.” Said the former KKR captain. He openly said that Kohli should be thankful that RCB haven’t removed him up till now. He said a similar statement in 2020 where he felt that RCB need to change their captain.

4) Ravichandran Ashwin-  I was blessed with an ethical mind not to fix games

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ravichandran Ashwin has been one of the funniest cricketers of all time. He has often been praised for his witty sense of humour and amazing comebacks. However, this wasn’t the case this time as Ashwin went on an offensive mode and made an arrogant statement while having a conversation with Herschelle Gibbs.

The legendary spinner took offense to Gibbs’s tweet and said that he never fixed matches like Gibbs. Replying to Ashwin’s post regarding a running shoe brand, Gibbs replied suggesting that the new footwear would help enhance the spinner’s ability to run fast. Ashwin, though, took the war of words to a higher level with a sharp retort. Ashwin replied by saying  “…I wasn’t as blessed as you were. But I was blessed with a wonderfully ethical mind not to fix games which put food on my plate,” said Ashwin, who took a dig at Gibbs

Gibbs was fined and suspended for six months by his national board after he agreed to under-perform in a one-day international as part of the match-fixing scandal spearheaded by then South Africa (SA) captain Hansie Cronje. Everyone was shocked by Ashwin’s tweet as one wouldn’t associate Ashwin with such kind of tweets. Ashwin then went on to delete his tweets and made peace with Gibbs.

5) Sabbir Rahman- I am not thinking about 400, 500 runs. Even if they do score that much, we have the batsmen who have the ability to chase that down

Sabbir Rahman
Sabbir Rahman. (Photo Source: Twitter)

This occurred way back in 2016. Bangladesh were all set to host England for an ODI series consisting of 3 matches. Sabbir had made a very confident statement which sounded less confident and more arrogant.

Bangladesh were going through a good phase in ODIs at home and had beaten Pakistan, India, and South Africa at their home post the 2015 World Cup. England were in superb form and were regularly scoring 350’s and 400’s at that time. Sabbir however felt that he and his team could chase even 500 against them. ” “A team is always strong at their home ground. So are we. England is doing well in England. When they come here, they will probably have to battle our spinners and they will need to survive that,”

“I am not thinking about 400, 500 runs. Even if they do score that much, we have the batsmen who have the ability to chase that down,” said Sabbir during an interview. He was heavily ridiculed for this statement and people made fun of him for being so overconfident. Various users on social media went on to troll him. Bangladesh went on to lose this series 2-1 to England.

6) Mushfiqur Rahim mocking India for losing the 2016 T20 World Cup semis

Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh. (Photo Source: Instagram)

This has to be one of the most hated incidents in cricket history. Indian fans still hate Rahim for what he said about India back in 2016. Rahim made this childish response after India got knocked out of the 2016 T20 World Cup against West Indies.

Bangladesh’s wicket-keeper, took a dig at India after they lost the semi-final to West Indies by seven wickets at Wankhede Stadium. He posted a tweet that read “Happiness is this…!!! Ha ha ha…!!! India lost in the semifinal” alongside a picture of MS Dhoni in the post-match presentation ceremony. He was brutally criticized for such an immature tweet.

One wouldn’t expect a professional sportsman to do so. Rahim went on to delete the tweet later on and apologized. His tweet read ” Sorry to all of you guys…as I am a big West Indies supporter but anyway sorry again for some harsh words…!!!!”

7) Ahmed Shehzad- I am not impressed with Kohli’s batting

Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan
Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

A lot was expected from the Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad. He was expected to be their answer to Virat Kohli but failed to do so and went on to even lose his place from the Pakistan squad.

Despite not living up to the expectations and losing his place in the national team, Shehzad still went on to pass an arrogant statement about Kohli. He said that he wasn’t impressed by Kohli’s batting. “Neither do I follow any other international cricketer nor like to be compared with anyone,” Shehzad said while talking to a TV channel.

He was heavily criticized for making such an arrogant statement as Kohli is considered as one of the greatest batsmen of this era and Shehzad was still struggling. The shocking thing is that Shehzad was once compared to Kohli and everyone thought that he could be Pakistan’s Kohli. But alas, that never happened.

8) Harbhajan Singh- Only 2 in my 103 Tests. Kumble and my Test wicket count would have been something else if we got wickets like last 4 years we playing on

Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Ashwin
Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: Instagram and BCCI)

Harbhajan Singh is one of the greatest spinners India has ever seen. He has picked more than 400 Test wickets. However, everyone was shocked when he blamed the spin-friendly wickets during India’s home season in 2016.

This occurred during India vs New Zealand series in India. India were on a roll and were winning matches for fun at home. Most of the matches were played on spin tracks which assisted Ravichandran Ashwin, Who was picking wickets for fun.

Harbhajan Singh however felt that even he and Kumble could have picked more wickets if they got similar pitches during their days. ” Only 2 in my 103 tests. Kumble and my test wicket count would have been something else if we got wickets like last 4 years we playing on👊” is what he replied to a tweet stating that Bhaji didn’t complain when he got similar tracks in Kanpur and Mumbai in 2004 and 2008 respectively. Bhaji was trolled for this statement and many people felt that he was salty and jealous.

9) Ravichandran Ashwin- What. What Update?

Ravi Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ravichandran Ashwin was a regular face for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, he represented the Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS) in 2018 and even captained the side. That was the first time he was leading an IPL franchise. However, his irritated reply to a journalist is what grabbed everyone’s eye.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh was also playing for KXIP at that time. As he was going through a lean patch, he was dropped from the playing XI and was replaced by Manoj Tiwary. In the press meeting when Ashwin was asked about the reason for dropping Yuvraj, he lost his cool and said: “What..What update? I have told clearly that he has been replaced by Manoj Tiwary.”

Ashwin was clearly not happy with the reporters asking him about an update of Yuvraj Singh. It was shocking to see Ashwin respond in such an arrogant fashion. Punjab then started to lose matches and they finished 7th under Ashwin’s leadership.

10) Virender Sehwag- Bangladesh are an ordinary side

Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Virender Sehwag is considered as one of the most explosive openers of all time. He managed to gain a lot of fans during his playing days. However, he was also famous for making blunt statements.

He made this statement almost a decade ago just before India’s Test series against Bangladesh. “Bangladesh are an ordinary side. They can’t beat India because they can’t take 20 wickets,” was what he said. When asked by a journalist if Bangladesh could surprise India he said, “No. They can’t beat us in Test matches,” Sehwag said. “They can surprise you in ODIs but not in Tests.”

Sehwag sounded pretty arrogant and one shouldn’t underestimate their opponents no matter what. When asked why he said that, he replied saying “Because they can’t take 20 Indian wickets. Even Sri Lanka found it difficult. Bangladesh can’t. They are an ordinary side.” Sehwag was criticized for this statement.

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