The India vs England cricket rivalry is one of the most intense and storied in the world of sports. Over the years, matches between these two cricketing giants have often witnessed heated moments, confrontations, and even full-blown verbal spats on the field. Recently, these altercations have become more frequent and visible, raising questions about the underlying reasons behind such animosity.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has offered a detailed explanation for this phenomenon, shedding light on the real factors fueling these confrontations.
The IPL Factor: Sunil Gavaskar’s Key Insight
Lack of English Players in the IPL
Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s most respected cricket analysts, has repeatedly pointed out that the absence of most England players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a primary reason for the frequent fights and confrontations between Indian and English cricketers.
- Limited IPL Participation: Most of the key English Test players, such as Joe Root and Ben Stokes, do not participate in the IPL regularly. This is in stark contrast to players from other countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, who are regulars in the IPL.
- No Shared Dressing Room Experience: Because English players rarely play in the IPL, they do not get the opportunity to mix, bond, and share dressing rooms with Indian players. This lack of camaraderie means that when they face each other in international matches, there is less mutual understanding and respect compared to players from other nations who have IPL experience together.
Impact on Player Relationships
Gavaskar explains that the IPL has helped reduce animosity between Indian players and those from other countries because it brings them together as teammates. This shared experience often leads to better on-field relationships and fewer confrontations. However, since English players are mostly absent from the IPL, the old rivalries and competitive spirit remain strong, sometimes even bordering on hostility.
“Before the IPL, there was a lot of animosity, bordering on being brutal, between some players. That intensity is still there between India and England, because they don’t play together in the IPL,” Gavaskar said.
Recent Examples: On-Field Confrontations
The Lord’s Test Incident
A recent high-profile example occurred during the third Test at Lord’s in July 2025. In the final moments of Day 3, Indian captain Shubman Gill and other Indian players were involved in a heated exchange with England’s Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. The confrontation began when Crawley was accused of time-wasting tactics, leading to sarcastic clapping, finger-pointing, and verbal altercations between the two sides.
- Gamesmanship and Frustration: Indian players felt that England was deliberately wasting time to avoid facing more overs, which led to tempers flaring.
- No IPL Bonding: Gavaskar highlighted that such incidents are more common with England than with teams whose players regularly participate in the IPL.
Historical Rivalry and Competitive Spirit
Gavaskar has also emphasized that the India-England rivalry has always been fierce, even before the advent of the IPL era. Beating England, especially in England, has historically been a matter of pride for Indian cricketers. This competitive spirit sometimes spills over into heated exchanges on the field.
Financial Dynamics and Jealousy
Another interesting angle raised by Gavaskar is the financial disparity caused by IPL contracts. He suggests that some English players might feel jealous or resentful about the high paychecks Indian players receive in the IPL, especially since many English cricketers are not picked or are withdrawn by their board for other commitments.
- IPL Paychecks as a Source of Tension: The lucrative IPL contracts for Indian players can be a sore point for some English cricketers, adding another layer to the on-field confrontations.
Tactical Battles and Gamesmanship
Besides the IPL issue, Gavaskar also disapproves of certain on-field strategies used by the England team, including applying short-ball tactics and field positions of the so-called ‘Bodyline’, tactics which Gavaskar considers unsportsmanlike. Such strategies of disturbing Indian players will always result in more conflicts and emotions further in the field during the game.
Why Don’t Such Fights Happen with Other Teams?
Gavaskar says that Indian players are rarely involved in such fist fights with other players of Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, as they are regulars in the IPL. The common IPL factor has created friendships and also created a mutual relationship of respect, which makes altercations during the matches very minimal
