San Francisco Unicorns pacer Haris Rauf and MI New York batsman Tajinder Singh were involved in a short but heated on-field moment in their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 match on Monday (IST). The altercation happened in the final delivery of the 15th over of the MI New York innings when a sharp yorker from Rauf hit Tajinder on the pads. The bowler and his colleagues went up in a vociferous appeal, but the umpire was not shaken.

Seething but calm, Rauf suddenly spun around, gathered the ball, and looked like he was about to bowl it back in at the stumps in case Tajinder had remained outside his crease. The air was thick with tension, particularly with Tajinder still without a run on the board. For an instant, it seemed things could get out of hand, but both men were able to contain themselves.

Tajinder, catching sight of Rauf's response, automatically lifted his hand and backpedaled into his crease in case the throw was attempted. Thankfully, Rauf did not go on to release the ball after double-checking the batter was safely inside the popping crease. What ensued was a hearty laugh from both of them, observing the game's escalation even at heightened stress situations.

Sportsmanship Triumphs During Heated Situation

In spite of the initial tension, the meeting ended on a cordial note, with both players de-escalating the situation with smiles. It was a reminder of how much room for mutual respect and camaraderie on the ground there can be even for the most intense competition.

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It's getting a little hot out there 😅 pic.twitter.com/VIGS4m1uPW

— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 16, 2025

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The incident soon went viral on social media with accolades for both Rauf's aggression and Tajinder's alertness. In a tournament that already has given fans so many dramatic moments, this confrontation of bat vs. ball added another dimension of suspense to MLC 2025.