As Lucknow Super Giants piled further misery on Mumbai Indians by extending the five-time IPL winners' losing streak to eight games, Krunal Pandya made sure that he won a nip and tuck contest with former teammate Kieron Pollard. The Baroda all-rounder returned with 3/19 with Pollard being one of his plucks. The West Indian perished after scoring an uncharacteristic 20-ball 19, and Krunal jumped on Pollard's back and planted a kiss on his head. (IPL 2022 Full Coverage)
Pollard walked off without reacting to his friend's antics but many fans felt that his gesture was a bit too much. Talking about duels, the cricket world witnessed a not-so-friendly duel when Wahab Riaz bowled thunderbolts against Shane Watson during the 2015 World Cup quarter-final.
Watson, who is currently serving as Delhi Capitals assistant coach, recalled Wahab's fiery spell and said the Pakistan quick would've never given him a send-off like Krunal. The Australian also said that he'd lose his cool even if a 'good mate' celebrates in that fashion.
"There is definitely no way that Wahab Riaz is going to kiss me on my head after that. It was a quarterfinal and that was a big battle. Even at that time, he had emotions that still haven't changed," Watson told the Grade Cricketer's YouTube channel.
{{/usCountry}}"There is definitely no way that Wahab Riaz is going to kiss me on my head after that. It was a quarterfinal and that was a big battle. Even at that time, he had emotions that still haven't changed," Watson told the Grade Cricketer's YouTube channel.
{{/usCountry}}"If someone did that to me after they got me out, oh jeez, even if it was a good mate, I will be doing well to not lose it. It is rubbing salt into the wound.
"With Wahab Riaz, that was self-inflicted because I did sledge him before when he was batting. That was self-inflicted and so, I did absolutely deserve all that came my way that game," he further added.
Watson, who also faced a lethal Shoaib Akhtar in his more than a decade-long cricket career, said he wasn't "stupid" to sledge the Pakistan speedster. "With Shoaib Akhtar, I wasn't that stupid to sledge him when he was at his prime," said the Australian.