Cricket is often referred to as a gentleman’s game. However, incidents such as player conflicts, disciplinary actions, or even someone tampering with a player’s shoe during a game are not uncommon in cricket. Among the franchise-based tournaments in cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently the most popular. The tournament began in 2008 and recently completed its 11th edition. The IPL is a melting pot of players from different countries, resulting in a sense of brotherhood among the players. In these 11 years, the IPL has seen many beautiful moments of cricket. However, it has also been marred by various controversies. Each season has given birth to numerous debates, making witnesses of all the controversial incidents. Today’s article is about the controversial incidents of the IPL.
The Slapping incident (IPL 2008)
At the beginning of the 2008 IPL, Harbhajan Singh was leading the Mumbai Indians against Kings XI Punjab. After the match, during the post-match handshakes, there was an altercation between the players which led to a physical altercation. Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth on his cheek, although both of them represent the Indian national team. Following this incident, Harbhajan was banned from the remaining matches of that season, and he was fined 100% of his match fee. This incident was unexpected, as it involved a player from the Indian national team during the first season of the IPL.
The Banned Pakistani Cricketers from IPL: A Look Back at the Controversy
In the first season of IPL in 2008, several Pakistani cricketers including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, and Misbah-ul-Haq played for different teams. Following the Mumbai attacks that year, the participation of Pakistani cricketers in the following year’s IPL became a matter of concern for the Pakistani government. The issue of their safety and security prompted the Indian authorities to ban their participation in the tournament. In 2009, when the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus was attacked in Lahore, the Indian cricket board became even more strict about not allowing Pakistani players to participate in IPL. As a result, Pakistani cricketers were banned from IPL like the first and last time they played in 2008.
Lalit Modi’s Removal from IPL
The IPL was formed in 2008 through the joint efforts of the BCCI and Lalit Modi, who was the former chairman of the IPL. However, during the 3rd season of IPL in 2010, Lalit Modi was banned for life due to various allegations such as financial irregularities, betting, match-fixing, and corruption.
Sourav Ganguly’s Omission from Kolkata Team
In the first three seasons of IPL (2008-2010), Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, led the team. However, the team performed poorly in those seasons, and as a result, there was no interest shown by Kolkata’s team management to buy him during the IPL 2011 auction. This led to protests by fans carrying placards with the slogan “No Dada, No KKR” on the streets of Kolkata. Later, due to an injury to Ashish Nehra, Sourav Ganguly got a chance to play for the Warriors India team.
Cheerleader’s Explosive Comments on IPL Players Lead to Controversy
In 2011, South African 22-year-old cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto made explosive remarks about the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that the cricket players engaged in unacceptable behaviour towards the cheerleaders during the post-match celebrations, such as making inappropriate advances, establishing unethical relationships, or attempting sexual harassment. Following these remarks, the IPL removed her from subsequent matches
Sexual Harassment and Assault Allegations against Luke Pomersbach
In 2012, Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach was arrested by the Mumbai police on charges of sexual harassment and assault. The victim claimed that Pomersbach first offered her alcohol, and when she refused, he followed her to her room and made advances towards her. When she resisted, he allegedly assaulted her. Later, Royal Challengers Bangalore team owner Vijay Mallya released a statement saying that Pomersbach was no longer a part of their team. As a result, Pomersbach had to leave India without playing any further matches.
Shahrukh Khan Banned from Wankhede Stadium
The law may not be a better example of equality than this one. In 2012, Bollywood superstar and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, Shahrukh Khan, was involved in a scuffle with security personnel at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. He entered the field in violation of the rules and obstructed security personnel. Complaints were made against Shahrukh by match officials and security personnel for using abusive language. At the time, Shahrukh was reportedly inebriated, although he later denied being under the influence of alcohol. Following the incident, the Mumbai Cricket Association banned Shahrukh from entering Wankhede Stadium for the next five years.
Spot Fixing Scandal
In 2013, Delhi Police arrested a bookie for his involvement in match-fixing. Subsequent investigations revealed the involvement of Bollywood actor, Vindu Dara Singh, and three players from Rajasthan Royals, namely Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan, and Ajit Chandila, in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. The co-owners of Rajasthan Royals, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband, Raj Kundra, and Gurunath Meiyappan, the owner of Chennai Super Kings, were also found to be involved in the betting scandal. Gurunath Meiyappan was the son-in-law of former BCCI president, N Srinivasan, who was forced to step down due to the controversy. The involvement of the team owners in the betting scandal was under investigation for a long time. In 2015, after the end of the IPL season, both Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were banned for two years. The co-owners of the two teams, Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, were banned for life for their involvement in the betting scandal
The Virat-Gambhir Rivalry
Both of them are icons of their national team. They have also led their respective franchise teams in the IPL. Virat was batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kolkata Knight Riders when he was dismissed by a ball from Lakshmipathy Balaji. As he was walking back to the dressing room, Virat heard something and turned towards Gambhir. Gambhir also turned towards Virat. It was one of the controversial incidents between the two captains of rival teams.
The Allegation against Ness Wadia by Preity Zinta
Bollywood actress Preity Zinta bought a stake in the Kings XI Punjab team in 2008 along with her former boyfriend. However, their personal and business relationship soured. In 2014, during an IPL match in Punjab, Preity accused Ness Wadia of physically assaulting her. She claimed that Wadia had attempted to harm her. Shortly after, Preity and Ness ended their relationship.
Virat Kohli Spotted with Anushka Sharma During a Rain Delay at IPL 2015 Match
The incident of the 9th match of IPL 2015 took place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, where the Royal Challengers Bangalore faced off against the Delhi Daredevils. Due to rain, the match was temporarily halted. Anushka Sharma was present in the VIP gallery adjacent to the dressing room of the players. Although there was a ban on meeting any player’s girlfriend or relative during the match, Virat’s presence was noticed there. He did not hesitate to meet Anushka despite the rule. It was a violation of the protocol. Although later the match was abandoned due to rain.
Chennai Shifts the Match to a New Venue
After two years of ban, when Chennai Super Kings return to the IPL 2018 season. Their home ground was the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. However, the issue of the Kaveri river water sharing led to conflict between the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the two states involved. Outside the stadium, thousands of people protested. As a result, the upcoming matches of Chennai became uncertain. The police provided adequate security measures. The remaining matches were shifted to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Also read – ‘This can be my Last World Cup’, Star Indian Bowler Ahead of IPL 2023
In conclusion, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marred by various controversial incidents over the years, ranging from match-fixing scandals to on-field altercations between players. These incidents have not only affected the integrity of the league but have also led to the suspension and banning of players and teams. While the IPL has taken measures to address these issues, such as the establishment of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, it remains important for the league to prioritize transparency and accountability in order to maintain the trust of fans and stakeholders. Ultimately, the success of the IPL depends not only on the quality of the cricket played but also on the league’s ability to uphold fair play and ethical standards.
