Tempers flared up between teammates Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja during a mid-game break on the fourth day of the second Test between India and Australia in Perth.

Ishant and Jadeja were engaged in a heated discussion before two other teammates, one of them being Mohammed Shami, separated them. It didn’t look like a friendly discussion but the reason behind their on-field argument was not clear.

“It does seem pretty animated,” former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had said durng commentary. “There’s lots of finger pointing. They were separated on a couple of occasions.”

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, this is how the conversation went:

The incident unfolded when Sharma said to Jadeja: “Don’t wave your hand at me. If you want something, come to me and say it.”

Jadeja responded: “Why are you saying so much?

Sharma replied: “Don’t wave your hand at me. Don’t take out your anger on me. I’ll take your anger and shove it up your a***. I will shove your anger up your a***.”

Jadeja’s next comment was not picked up by stump microphones but Sharma replied: “Don’t tell me also. Don’t talk bulls**t.”

While Ishant played in the first two Tests, Jadeja has been limited to drinks duty and substitute fielding at the Optus Stadium here. Jadeja didn’t find a place in the playing XI, despite Ravichandran Ashwin’s injury, with India going for a four-man pace attack in the Test.

India lost the second Test by 146 runs after Australia wrapped up the tail in the morning session.

The two teams will now move to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test beginning on December 26.

UPDATE: The Indian management told 7cricket that it was a spur of the moment issue.