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Sreesanth was never just a cricketer. He was a force of nature—an artist with the ball, a showman with his antics, and a man who flirted with the extremes of triumph and disaster. From the highest peaks of World Cup glory to the darkest alleys of scandal, his journey was a script that no writer could have dared to pen.

After his impressive bowling display, Sreesanth secured a place in the Test team, and India's big challenge was to face South Africa on their soil, where they had never won a Test match. In the first innings, India was bowled out for 249, putting South Africa in a commanding position.

India needed wickets to stay in the game, and Sreesanth stepped up, displaying his pace and swing by taking five wickets and dismantling the South African batting order. However, an incident during the second innings overshadowed his performance. Andre Nel was bowling. He bowled a dot ball to Sreesanth and said a few words. ANGRY Sreesanth responded in the most hilarious way; he swung Nel for a six back over his head and then proceeded to dance all the way from the striker’s end to the non-striker’s end while imitating riding a horse.

With South Africa set a target of 402 runs, Sreesanth maintained his aggressive bowling style, sledged brutally at South African players, including Hashim Amla, and claimed three wickets despite some poor umpiring decisions. Thanks to his heroic efforts, India became the first team to win a Test match in South Africa, and Sreesanth was named Man of the Match after taking eight wickets. However, following the match, the ICC imposed a fine of 20% on Sreesanth. In 2006, Sreesanth changed his name to Sreesunth (with a “U” instead of an “A”) after experiencing a slump in form. However, he later decided to revert to his original name for what he described as “sentimental” reasons.

India entered the 2007 T20 World Cup with a young squad, giving Sreesanth his opportunity to shine. The semifinal against South Africa was critical, with India setting a target of 154 runs. Despite facing tough odds, Sreesanth's important wickets, including AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher, contributed to India's 37-run victory. In the final against Australia, India set a target of 189 runs. Australia’s openers, Gilchrist and Hayden, got off to a strong start, but Sreesanth clean bowled Gilchrist, providing India with a much-needed breakthrough. But Australia intensified their attack, and Dhoni brought Sreesanth back into the attack, and he clean-bowled Hayden as well. His impressive performance, taking two wickets for just 12 runs in four overs, was crucial in securing India's win, and he was named Man of the Match. In the final against Pakistan, he took one wicket, and who could forget that catch along with the iconic line by Ravi Shastri? India ultimately won the World Cup, and Sreesanth played a vital role in the team's success throughout the tournament.

However, things began to take a negative turn for Sreesanth. His aggressive style also led to controversies. Former England captain Nasser Hussain criticized him as mentally unstable after he bowled a beamer at Kevin Pietersen, called a no-ball an extra foot, and hit England’s captain, Steve Waugh. These incidents resulted in the ICC fining him 50% of his match fee. The situation escalated further when former Australian captain Ian Chappell suggested that the BCCI impose a ban on Sreesanth. This all stemmed from a clash with an Australian player, but it didn’t end there. During the fourth ODI, while he wasn’t playing, allegations emerged that Sreesanth sledged Symonds and clapped in his face after Symonds got out, despite being the 12th man. Ricky Ponting noted that Sreesanth did this with four or five players.

After this, Sreesanth said, "I feel OK; I feel Ian should really look at the video of the last few games. I don't need a ban. I can learn. I'm grown up enough to realize how to play cricket."

When the BCCI launched the IPL, no one could have predicted what would happen just 10 days into the tournament. During the inaugural season, Sreesanth, who was playing for Kings XI Punjab, approached Harbhajan Singh from the losing Mumbai Indians after a match between their teams. But it ended with Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth hard enough to make him cry on the field. While Sreesanth claims he only said something harmless, after a 15-day investigation, Harbhajan was found guilty and banned for five matches, with most of his match fees deducted, along with a warning of a lifetime ban. In contrast, Sreesanth received a warning letter from the BCCI, stating that if he didn't improve his behavior, further action would be taken.

Umpire Amir Saheb revealed that Sreesanth had been sledging Mumbai Indians players throughout the season and acting unprofessionally, akin to a schoolboy throwing tantrums.

Despite the controversy, Sreesanth went on to become the second-highest wicket-taker of the IPL season. BUT THE OTHER controversies did not end here.

Despite being the top wicket-taker for Kings XI Punjab, he couldn't secure a spot in the Indian team due to fitness problems. He first missed the IPL because of a muscle injury and later suffered a back injury while playing in domestic cricket. The BCCI had arranged for him to recover in a hotel, where he ended up in a dispute with the staff over the noise from the air conditioning. Following a complaint, the BCCI requested an explanation from him. Instead of focusing on his recovery, Sreesanth was seen dancing on a reality show, which angered both the public and the BCCI. He defended himself by stating that the episode was filmed months prior. Later, the BCCI informed him that he needed to participate in domestic cricket to make a comeback, but he refused to play those matches. The secretary of the Kerala Cricket Association mentioned that he was included in the team but was unresponsive and missing. Another incident occurred when he hosted a party in November that turned into a fight, resulting in an injured guest and complaints to the Bangalore police, who issued a warning to him.

Controversies continued—

During the Irani Cup, Sreesanth had a heated exchange with Dhawal Kulkarni, during which he began to verbally abuse him in front of the umpires. As a result, 60% of his match fees were deducted. Due to his repeated violations of the BCCI’s code of conduct, he received a final warning that his behavior needed to improve or he would face suspension from domestic matches. However, despite this warning, he continued to act inappropriately. The Kerala State Board also issued a warning to him for failing to attend conditioning camps and for breaking team discipline.

During a match against the Rajasthan Royals, he was unexpectedly dropped from the team. It was later disclosed that his removal was due to a confrontation with the Rajasthan Royals' coach, Rahul Dravid.

Despite all this, Sreesanth was unexpectedly selected for the Sri Lanka tour. He took five wickets in a match; after this, he was titled "The Kerala Express is back." Sreesanth played key roles in India’s glory days, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2009 Test No. 1 ranking, and the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. After 2011, recurring injuries sidelined him from playing for India or in the IPL.

Then came the worst day of his life—the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. He was arrested, accused of fixing matches, and his cricketing career was shattered. Though he maintained his innocence, the damage was done. His life took several turns, from reality shows to politics, but cricket never truly left his heart.

After years of exile, Sreesanth attempted a comeback but struggled with accuracy. He finally found his place in commentary, where his voice once again echoes through the game he loves.

Redemption? A New Chapter

Years passed. The courts cleared him of charges, and the ban was lifted. But cricket had moved on. When he tried to return, the fire was gone. His pace had dropped. His accuracy wavered. The world had little room for a fallen star.

With his playing days fading, Sreesanth turned to other pursuits. Reality shows. Politics. Commentary. But he would always remain a story of what could have been—a bowler who could have become an all-time great but instead became a tale of triumph, controversy, and tragedy.

And so, the Kerala Express slowed to a halt. But the legend of Sreesanth? That would never fade.