India vs England: 5 instances of sledging that made the game absorbing

3. Sourav Ganguly versus Stuart Broad at 6th ODI, The Oval, 2007

Just two weeks prior to the insane hammering he got against Yuvraj, Stuart Broad had bumped into ‘Maharaj’ or Sourav Ganguly during a bilateral series ODI at the Oval and got a taste of the senior cricketer’s wrath. England were leading the seven-match series 3-2 after the fifth game and India had to win the sixth game to stay alive in the series.

The hosts posted a competitive 316  for 6 after winning the toss and electing to bat first. When Ganguly came to open the innings with his long-time partner Sachin Tendulkar, Broad, then only a year-old in international cricket and was yet to make his Test debut, crossed the line and sledged Ganguly after the southpaw could not score off a delivery from him.

It was then when the former Indian captain was seen approaching Broad in an animated manner and the bowler got off guard.

The umpire had to intervene but that Ganguly was not happy with the incident was evident when he thrashed the bowler for a straight six in the next over that he bowled.

Years later, when a retired Ganguly was asked what was he telling Broad, he said “Let’s go for a drink in the evening” but that the two could not agree on what to have – beer or champagne. It was then when he hit that massive six.

The temper was certainly down but on the ground that day, Ganguly had clearly told Broad not to mess around with him. Ganguly had scored 53 off 60 balls and got dismissed by Broad himself but by then he had put India in a commanding position by scoring 150 with Tendulkar for the first wicket. India won the game by 2 wickets to level the series.