Irfan Pathan recalls Kumar Sangakkara accusing India of cheating during 2005 Delhi Test

During a Test match in Delhi in 2005, former Sri Lanka player Kumar Sangakkara accused the Indian team of cheating, an episode recounted by Irfan Pathan.

Sangakkara is generally viewed as composed on the field, but Pathan said the incident became a heated moment of sledging during India’s chase in that match. Pathan opened the innings alongside Gautam Gambhir and made 93, yet he said his knock was overshadowed by the exchange with Sri Lanka. He attributed the Sri Lankan players’ anger to a change of ball by the umpires during Sri Lanka’s innings.

“There was a Test match in Delhi. I opened and made 93. After the first innings, when we went to bowl, the box of balls had changed, or something like that happened, and the Sri Lankan players were not happy. Sangakkara was the most vocal of all. Then, when I went to bat, I had zero idea what had happened; I was asked to open. I hit Muralitharan for two sixes,” Pathan said on JioHotstar's ‘Cheeky Singles’ programme. "If he is getting hit for sixes with the new ball, it means you have derailed the opposition's planning a bit. Suddenly, Sangakkara started saying, ‘You guys cheat, your parents teach you all this and blah blah.’ He went personal, and I also answered back. He started it," he added.

Pathan described the confrontation escalating after he struck Muttiah Muralitharan for two sixes, and he said Sangakkara made remarks that went beyond the on-field contest. He said he responded to those comments rather than letting them pass, framing the exchange as initiated by Sangakkara.

The two later found themselves teammates at Kings XI Punjab, and Pathan detailed how they resolved the matter off the field. "After the auction, I saw I would be playing with Sangakkara at Punjab. Now I was eating with his family, and I did not know what to do. I went and told him sorry. He also apologised, and then we became good friends. Emotions are high, and you always make mistakes. It matters how maturely you handle things," said Pathan.

Sangakkara is currently a significant part of the IPL, serving as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals team.