Secret ‘hug’ ended Andrew Symonds feud that ‘never should have exploded’

Indian cricket legend Harbhajan Singh has revealed the truth about his feud with Andrew Symonds and over the “Monkeygate” scandal.

Indian spinning legend Harbhajan Singh has revealed how his feud with Andrew Symonds turned into a friendship and one of cricket’s most fiery scandals ended amicably.

Harbhajan and Symonds were the fiercest of rivals in the 2007-08 Test series between Australia and India when Aussie allrounder accused Harbhajan of calling him a “monkey” during the SCG Test.

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Harbhajan was initially banned for three Test matches but the ban was downgraded following a complicated, ugly appeals process, amid fears India would abandon the tour.

Symonds didn’t back down from his claim he was called a monkey, and was supported in hearings by senior players including Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

But Harbhajan was adamant he never called Symonds a monkey and the duo eventually got over the saga when they teamed up to play together for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

In an interview with Code Sports, Harbhajan recalled Symonds approached him at friend’s house in Chandigargh, India with a bottle of Bundaberg Rum before the pair buried the hatchet, even sharing a hug.

“We sat together for a long, long time and talked about it and at the end of the conversation we had a long, long hug and the picture of the hug became very famous in our chat groups,’’ Harbhajan said.

Andrew Symonds with Harbhajan Singh during the Monkeydate SCG Test in January 2008.

Symonds shakes hands with Harbhajan Singh after a Twenty20 match at the MCG in 2008.

“A very ugly spat became a great friendship. I think things happen for a reason. That Sydney thing should never have exploded like it did.

“When he came over he was like ‘how are we going to settle this?’ but we sat down and we spoke about it.

“We did sort out everything. We left the controversy behind. We won the championship together.”

Read Harbhajan Singh’s full interview with Code Sports here.

Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh became good friends. Picture: Instagram

Symonds buried the hatched with Harbhajan. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The touching story echoes Symonds’ account of that meeting. He told Fox Cricket before his death: “He (Harbhajan) goes, ‘Look, I’ve got to say sorry to you for what I did to you in Sydney’.

“‘I apologise, I hope I didn’t cause you, your family, your friends too much harm and I really apologise for what I said, I shouldn’t have said it’.

“And he actually broke down crying, and I could just see that was a huge weight off his shoulders, he had to get rid of it.’’

In response, Harbhajan tweeted: “WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN??? BROKE DOWN??? WHAT FOR??”.

The Monkeygate scandal became the talk of the cricket world.

Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden are seen at the appeal hearing against a three-match ban imposed on Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh by the ICC. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Harbhajan said he was left shattered when he heard the news of Symonds tragic death in a car crash in May 2022, aged 46.

“I look back and just wish all that (Monkeygate) drama just never happened,’’ Harbhajan told Code Sports.

“I wish neither of us went through it. Andrew is missed every day. I was shattered by the news of his death. When I heard of his accident I just hoped it was false news. I couldn’t believe it.

“When I was getting off the plane in Brisbane last week I thought that if he was still alive and living in Brisbane I would have gone to his place that night. Then we would have gone out. I just know that. That was how we were.’’

Symonds’ close friend Jimmy Maher confirmed Symonds had “sorted out everything with Harbhajan” and they had become friends, even though the explosive allrounder remained disillusioned with the cricket establishment.

Symonds had his fair share of cricketing feuds. His once close friendship with Michael Clarke fell apart due to claims of jealousy and a comment that hurt Symonds.

Ricky Ponting and Harbhajan Singh wave to the crowd next to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide Oval. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Harbhajan and Ponting brought the Border-Gavaskar Trophy onto Adelaide Oval before the second Test in a sign that time has soothed over any tensions from the scandal.

The ‘Monkeygate’ scandal was the flashpoint that saw Australia’s rivalry with India go to the next level.

But cricketing relations between the two nations are as good as ever, so Mohammed Siraj’s send-off to Travis Head and the occasional allegations of pitch doctoring don’t cause the same diplomatic ripple they once did.

Australia haven’t won a Test series in India since 2004 and are aiming to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

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Originally published as Secret ‘hug’ ended Andrew Symonds feud that ‘never should have exploded’