IPL 2020: 5 most intense on-field player rivalries

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) saw the best players in the world overcome unprecedented circumstances and lack of match practice to put on a world-class display of top-quality cricket.

In what was one of the most hotly contested editions in history, many on-field player rivalries threatened to boil over. With the stakes higher than ever in the cash-rich league, altercations were quite common, although it must be said that sportsmanship was maintained for the most part.

Here are the 5 best on-field player rivalries from IPL 2020.

---

#5 Shreyas Iyer vs Varun Chakravarthy - Match 42 of IPL 2020

Iyer didn't take too kindly to Chakravarthy's send-off

Only one 5-for was taken in IPL 2020, and the feat was accomplished by KKR mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy against DC. The Tamil Nadu man scalped the wickets of Rishabh Pant, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel and Shimron Hetmyer, but his most prized scalp was that of DC captain Shreyas Iyer.

Iyer had to go after the bowling due to the mounting required run rate, and holed out in the deep. While crossing over, he ended up right next to Chakravarthy, who sent him off with a cheeky namaste. The 25-year-old didn't seem to take too kindly to the gesture, and glared at Chakravarthy on his way back to the pavilion.

"This is surreal. The last few games I didn't get wickets. I wanted to get one or two today, but thank god I got five. I enjoyed Shreyas Iyer's wicket the most. I was bowling to the shorter boundary so I had to attack the stumps," Chakravarthy said after the game.

---

#4 Marcus Stoinis vs Rashid Khan - Qualifier 2 of IPL 2020

Rashid had words to say to makeshift opener Stoinis after castling him

Marcus Stoinis' promotion to opener worked splendidly for DC in their IPL 2020 Qualifier 2 encounter against SRH, as he got his team off to a flying start alongside Shikhar Dhawan. Bereft of answers, David Warner turned to his biggest trump card in IPL 2020 - Rashid Khan.

The Afghan leggie struck almost immediately, castling Stoinis after squaring him up with a vicious away-turner. As the Aussie walked back to the pavilion, Rashid had many words to say, and seemed to point the batsman towards the general direction of the pavilion. Stoinis is not one to back away, and his mouthy retort was caught on camera.

Stoinis won the battle eventually, as he picked up 3 wickets to severely dent the SRH run-chase en route to the Man of the Match award. Although he didn't directly sledge Rashid, his passion during his wicket celebrations was there for all to see.

---

#3 Shane Watson vs Kartik Tyagi - Match 37 of IPL 2020

Tyagi had the final laugh in his battle against Watson

CSK desperately needed a win in Match 37 of IPL 2020 against RR, and Faf du Plessis' early dismissal brought Shane Watson to the crease. The Aussie, who was up against Kartik Tyagi, crunched a pull to the boundary off his first ball and then sneaked a chop past the keeper to be on 8 off 2.

Tyagi had some words to say during all of these deliveries, and although it did seem like light-hearted banter, Watson - who was in a poor run of form - didn't look too impressed. The 19-year-old had the final say in the matter as Watson flicked a loosener on his pads straight to mid-wicket.

Tyagi celebrated with vigour and had a glare at Watson, who forlornly walked back to the dugout.

---

#2 Hardik Pandya vs Chris Morris - Match 48 of IPL 2020

Pandya and Morris are two characters who don't back down often

Hardik Pandya walked in with MI in a comfortable position in a run-chase against RCB, and Chris Morris tried to get under his skin by pretending to throw the ball at the batsman after collecting it in his follow-through.

The MI all-rounder didn't say much apart from a cold stare, but after hitting the South African for a six in the 19th over, he gestured rather rudely at the bowler.

Morris had his revenge shortly, getting Pandya out caught at cover and accompanying the wicket with a few choice words. The 27-year-old had a smile on his face as he walked back to the pavilion, but not before aiming a few jibes in the direction of Morris.

Both players were reprimanded for violating the IPL Code of Conduct.

---

#1 Virat Kohli vs Suryakumar Yadav - Match 48 of IPL 2020

Kohli tried to get under the skin of the free-stroking Suryakumar

The same game between RCB and MI saw yet another intense on-field player rivalry, this time between Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.

This battle may not have had many words spoken, but the setting of the game, which was played shortly after Suryakumar was snubbed by the Indian selectors for the tour of Australia, added great intrigue to the contest.

Indian captain Virat Kohli, running out of ideas to dismiss the free-stroking MI No. 3, walked right up to him near the stumps for no apparent reason. Suryakumar, not to be outdone by the man who invariably has at least a minor say in national team selection, glared back at him coolly.

Not saying anything to Kohli, Suryakumar let his bat do the talking and took his team over the line. He then pulled off the now-famous 'Keep calm, I'm here' celebration.