Cricketing rivals who went on to become great friends

Over the years, there have been rivalries galore in the world of cricket. While some have been between two great teams, quite a few others have been about individual players from different teams. On the other hand, there have also been memorable friendships too, but mostly within players from the same country.However, the sport also has a number of fine examples of how some fierce rivals on the field have developed friendships worth cherishing. Some of the biggest names to have played the game have led the way in forging unimaginable camaraderie with players from opposition teams.Here are 5 best examples of cricketing rivals becoming great friends:

#5 Virender Sehwag - Shoaib Akhtar

Sehwag helps Shoaib get back on his feet during a match

In their playing days, Shoaib Akhtar and Virender Sehwag shared what was one of the biggest rivalries that has been witnessed in India-Pakistan cricket. It used to be a real cat and mouse game every time they faced each other with one always on the lookout to dominate the other.

There have been some great chapters in their rivalry which fans from both countries will never be able to forget. However, with both of them now having walked into the sunset in their international careers, there is a new found friendship that has developed between Sehwag and Akhtar.

This camaraderie was brought into the open by Shoaib prior to the start of the All Stars series- where both of them were part of Sachin Tendulkar’s team- when he claimed that his biggest enemy (Sehwag) was now his greatest friend.

It is something that was hard to imagine back in the prime of their careers. However, Shoaib Akhtar and Virender Sehwag have made it possible post-retirement.

#4 Virat Kohli - Dale Steyn

Kohli and Steyn have been friends for quite a while

Ace Indian batsman Virat Kohli and South African paceman Dale Steyn are quite similar in terms of their passion for the game. They are fiercely competitive rivals when they are playing against each other, but other than that, the two of them enjoy a fine friendship.

Although their friendship developed ever since they started playing for the same franchise in the IPL, it was revealed to the world by Virat Kohli last year prior to India’s World Cup game against South Africa. Kohli stated that he had played with Steyn for 3 years at RCB and they have carried forward their friendship from there.

Virat also said that Steyn always gives him the biggest hug and that they are very friendly with each other whenever they are not playing cricket. On the field, the duo hold a great amount of mutual respect for each other.

#3 Kevin Pietersen - Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj and Pietersen have set aside their great rivalry

Kevin Pietersen’s early years in international cricket saw him forge a great rivalry against Indian allrounder Yuvraj Singh. The former England batsman had labelled Yuvraj as a ‘pie-chucker’ and referred to his bowling as ‘filth’.

However, a few years down the line the same Pietersen was seen defending his good friend Yuvraj Singh, whom everyone was blaming for India’s loss in the 2014 World T20 final. Spending time together in the IPL was perhaps what helped these two superstars bury the hatchet and become close friends.

When Yuvraj was battling cancer in the year 2012, Kevin Pietersen made it a point that he visited the former at his residence and gave him some much-needed encouragement. The duo ensure that they keep in touch whenever they get an opportunity.

Their friendship is one of the great examples of how great rivals can become friends with time.

#2 Ian Botham - Viv Richards

Richards and Botham enjoyed a great camaraderie

One of the most popular cricketing friendships of all time is the one between West Indian great Viv Richards and legendary Englishman Ian Botham. Although they played their international cricket for two rival nations, the duo spent a lot of time playing together for Somerset in England’s county cricket.

It was precisely during this period when their legendary association rose to great heights. Both men have often revealed in the media on how they shared a house for 10 years and spent some great times together there. They became the best of friends and have carried out their exemplary friendship ever since.

In an interview on the occasion of his 60th birthday, Richards called Botham a friend for life and spoke about how they are always by each other’s side come what may. On the other hand, the Englishman, in one of his columns, stated that Viv Richards was like his brother.

A great example of the depth of their friendship was when Ian Botham refused a Somerset contract after Richards and his fellow countryman Joel Garner were sacked by the county in the 1987 season.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar - Shane Warne

The duo have even created their own cricket tournament

Perhaps the greatest friendship of all time between two former cricketing rivals has been the Tendulkar-Warne alliance. The two were, at one point of time, involved in a famed rivalry where Sachin Tendulkar had the upper hand over Shane Warne most of the time.

Right from their playing days, there has been a lot of mutual admiration and bonding between them. Whenever India and Australia were involved in a particular series, Sachin and Warne ensured that they were connected off the field whenever possible.

Neither of them has ever spared an occasion to shower praise upon the other. At the time of Tendulkar's retirement from the game, Warne was quick to acknowledge that the Indian maestro was his greatest opponent in cricket.

The latest chapter in their friendship came when they got their heads together to organise a T20 tournament named Cricket All-Stars which brought a few legends of their time back to cricketing action. The two teams were named after both these icons and even though Warne's team won, their great bond was clearly on display.