The most entertaining cricket league has given birth to some of the biggest controversies of world cricket.
Here are the top five:
Slapgate
It did not take much time for the grand league to make it to the headlines with one of the ugliest controversies on the field ever. Harbhajan Singh, then captain of Mumbai Indians, was captured slapping the Kings XI Punjab bowler S Sreesanth during a group match in Mohali. Sreesanth was later seen sobbing heavily as his teammates came to console him.Singh was banned from the league in the season and was also banned from five ODIs by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee. Reportedly, after Mumbai‘s defeat in the match, Sreesanth had murmured ‘hard luck’ to Harbhajan Singh and former India spinner lost his temper.
Rajasthan Royals Suspended
One of the biggest controversies that shattered the cricket world was the match-fixing allegation. Rajasthan Royals that won the first Indian Premier League title ever found themselves in huge trouble when Raj Kundra, the husband of its co-owner Shilpa Shettyconfessed to betting on Rajasthan Royal’s matches as well as matches of other teams through a bookie. It saw a number of big names of Indian cricket being interrogated by the police time to time. While the franchise was eventually banned for two years, it shook the faith of the fans.
Lalit Modi Expelled
The Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the most entertaining league of world cricket. While it has revolutionised the game in multiple way, it has shown the dark sides of the game too. Lalit Modi, the man who conceptualised the league was expelled after the third edition of the IPL following financial irregularities. 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, and his behavioural pattern.
Cheerleader Controversy
An IPL cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualottospoke about how cheerleaders were treated by the cricketers. For sharing the details she was eventually thrown out of Mumbai Indians. The South African later said, “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.”
First Mankading
Nobody can forget about the famous Mankading incident during the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League. Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin ‘mankaded’ Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler during a match.Buttler was at the non-striker’s end and Ashwin was seen dislodging the bails before taking his bowling action since the batter was out of the crease. This was the first ever mankading incident in the history of IPL and became one of the biggest controversies of the league.
