IPL Flashback: top 5 moments that created huge controversies in IPL

The 12 seasons of IPL have given us enough memorable moments. Let’s talk about some not so memorable ones that created huge controversies.

• Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth

Within 12 days of the grand inauguration of the league, things turned ugly and controversial. On April 25, Harbhajan Singh, the then captain of Mumbai Indians, was pictured slapping then Kings XI Punjab pacer S Sreesanth in Mohali. Sreesanth was later seen crying bitterly and as a result, Bhajji was banned from the league in the season. He was also banned from five ODIs by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee. According to reports, after Mumbai‘s defeat, Sreesanth had murmured ‘hard luck’ to Harbhajan Singh and the senior lost his cool.

• Pakistan Players barred from participating in IPL

After the 2008 Mumbai attack, during the second season of the IPL the Pakistan Cricket Board first refused to grant permission to its players to come and play in India after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. On the other hand, the BCCI also took a decision on the same line and kept Pakistan away from the league.

• Lalit Modi controversy 

Lalit Modi, the man who started the league was expelled after the third edition of the league for financial irregularities. Most certainly it was the biggest controversy of the league and a huge blow. He was charged of five counts- shady initial bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab; a suspect broadcast deal with Sony; bid-rigging of two new franchises this year and his behavioural pattern. Chirayu Amin became the new chairman of the league.

• Cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto controversy

South African cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto shared her thoughts on how cheerleaders were treated poorly by cricketers. He was eventually thrown out of Mumbai Indians for speaking her mind. “I was sent home as if I was a criminal. I was treated as if I had taken drugs or done something awful, and I was never offered an opportunity to give my side of the story. It’s a joke. There were cameras everywhere at these after-parties, watching what they got up to. The guys treated us like piece of meat. We couldn’t go anywhere without the crowds mobbing us,” she told reporters after the incident.

• Mankading controversy in IPL 2019

The skipper of the Kings XI Punjab Ravichandran Ashwin ‘mankaded’ Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler during an IPL match in 2019. Buttler was trying to chase down a target and full swing when Ashwin stopped mid-way through his bowling to run-out him. Buttler was at the non-striker’s end and he went out of the crease. This was not just the turning point of the match, this also created a lot of flak.