I Don't Hate Dhoni Or CSK, The Jersey Resembles Australian Team: Sreesanth

Sreesanth had a massive outburst after being axed from the game against Chennai Super Kings in the sixth IPL edition

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Team India's senior fast bowler S. Sreesanth revealed many cricketers on the Indian cricket team did not respect the then India mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, during his tenure with the national squad in 2008. Team India went on to script history by winning the World Cup for the second time in 2011 under Upton's and head coach Garry Kirsten. Not only that, team India, for the first time ever, attained ICC top Test rankings, with Kirsten and Upton in the team management staff. "Paddy Upton was not respected by many players in the team. He was not that big of a player. But I used to have good conversation with him," Sreesanth said on Helo live on Friday. Recently, Upton in his autobiography named 'Barefoot Coach', wrote about an ugly incident that happened during his tenure as coach with Indian Premier Franchise (IPL) Rajasthan Royals, in 2013.

The 51-year-old said that Sreesanth had a massive outburst after being axed from the game against Chennai Super Kings in the sixth IPL edition. He said that Sreesanth abused him and Rahul Dravid for dropping him from the XI. However, the 37-year-old pacer denied those claims and said that he never had any argument with Dravid and wondered what made Upton write all these things. "I could never disrespect a man like Rahul Dravid. He is the best captain. I was angry because I was not part of the squad during the CSK match. I asked the reason for the same. "Yes, I wanted to play against CSK and wanted to win against them. But I don't know the exact reason for keeping me out. In the Durban match, I bowled to M.S. Dhoni and took his wicket. "After that match, I did not get any chance to play against CSK. Team management never gave me proper reason. I don't hate Dhoni or CSK, but I go with color. CSK jersey resembles the Australian team, that's all," he added. (With agency inputs)