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.