Former South African cricketer extraordinaire AB de Villiers recently shared his thoughts on the heated feud between the Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australian batter Travis Head by the 2nd Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 204-25 Test at Adelaide Oval. Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers addressed the incident, which attracted considerable attention and sparked debate about on-field behaviour.
AB de Villiers, who once shared a team with Siraj in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) expressed his understanding of Siraj’s fiery temper. Speaking on his Youtube channel, De Villiers commented on Siraj’s celebratory dismissal for Head after the match-winning hundred, saying it was typical of Siraj’s passion and drive. He said that while he appreciates friendly banter in cricket, it should never cross over into personal, religious or racial territory
“Perhaps it is questionable to give Head a dismissal after scoring hundreds of match-winning runs. But that’s Siraj for you. His enthusiasm, his enthusiasm and his drive to win cricket games. That being said out there, I don’t really care if it didn’t cross the line. So what’s above the line? I think it’s personal stuff, religious stuff, racial stuff. Otherwise, I’m happy to overlook it.” said De Villiers.
The incident and the aftermath
The clash unfolded when Siraj dismissed Head with an excellent yorker and gave him a moving dismissal. Head, who had scored a match-winning 140 in the first innings, claimed he simply said “good bowling” to Siraj. However, Siraj disputed this claim, calling it a “lie” and claiming that Head was abusive, which triggered his reaction. This controversy led to a tense atmosphere at Adelaide Oval, with the home crowd vocally supporting Head and booing Siraj. Despite the tension, the two players reportedly moved past the incident. Head, addressing the media ahead of Day 3, acknowledged that the situation had been blown out of proportion but clarified that he and Siraj had now reconciled.
READ ALSO: AUS vs IND: Mohammed Siraj’s sensational revelation on Travis Head’s allegation of heated exchange in Pink Ball Test
Australia’s commanding victory over India
Australia dominated the Adelaide Test, which ended in three days with a decisive 10-wicket victory. Mitchell Starc was instrumental in the first innings, taking 6 for 48 to dismantle India’s batting line-up, including dismissing the Perth Test centurions Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli. Captain Pat Cummins he then led the team into the second innings, claiming 5 for 57 to restrict India to 175. With only 19 runs required, Australia achieved victory in just 3.2 overs. This comprehensive victory leveled the series at 1-1 and propelled the hosts to the top World Trials Championship (WTC) ratings, boosting their bid for a place in the final.
