Just a handful of days remain for the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) to get under way in what will be the tournament’s 12th edition.
Over the years, the IPL has provided some engrossing T20 action with the world’s richest franchise league living well up to its reputation.
However, amidst all the razzmatazz and glamour, the IPL has also been overshadowed by controversies from time to time.
Here, we look at the five biggest controversies to have occurred in the IPL in its 11-year history.
LALIT MODI GETS LIFE BAN
The IPL was always Lalit Modi’s brainchild, but the league’s commissioner and chairman ultimately had an acrimonious separation. Having built the IPL in his ‘live life large’ image, Modi was eventually hounded out by the BCCI in 2010.
The then IPL commissioner was found guilty of financial irregularities by BCCI’s disciplinary committee and was ultimately given a life ban from cricket in 2013. Modi is now in England on a permanent exile after multiple investigations were opened against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India and the Enforcement Directorate.
An acrimonious end for Modi in the IPL.
RAVINDRA JADEJA GETS ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION
Having created a name for himself in Rajasthan Royals’ title-winning campaign in the inaugural edition of 2008, Ravindra Jadeja found himself missing out in 2010 after being found guilty to breaching player guidelines.
The India all-rounder was contracted to play the 2010 edition with Rajasthan Royals, but was then found to be in negotiations with other franchises for a more lucrative offer. Under IPL guidelines, players are prohibited to do so and Jadeja was promptly handed a one-year ban from the competition.
The player returned in 2011, where he represented the now defunct Kerala Tuskers.
Jadeja missed out on the 2010 edition.
SLAPGATE
Controversy didn’t wait too long to hit the IPL, with the first one happening in the inaugural edition itself. After a clash between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, Harbhajan Singh allegedly slapped his India team-mate S Sreesanth following his side’s loss.
The Mumbai off-spinner was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the 2008 IPL campaign after being slapped with a 11-game ban. Kings XI pacer Sreesanth was seen in tears during the incident, but the pair later buried their differences and represented India together on several occasions including the 2011 World Cup.
The pair have since made up their differences.
SPOT-FIXING SCANDAL
Sreesanth was never one to stay away from controversy and the Kerala-born pacer was at it again in the 2013 edition. Sreesanth was playing for Rajasthan Royals at the time and was among three players from the franchise arrested by the Delhi Police for alleged spot-fixing charges.
One of the alleged charges against Sreesanth was signalling bookies during the games with the help of his towel while bowling.
Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were subsequently handed life bans from cricket by the BCCI. Sreesanth has not played in the IPL or for India ever since, although the pacer recently had his life ban overturned by the country’s Supreme Court.
The pacer was found guilty of spot-fixing in the 2013 edition.
CHENNAI, RAJASTHAN GET TWO-YEAR BANS
The investigations into the 2013 spot-fixing scandal only got murkier as it progressed before ultimately engulfing the owners of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.
Rajasthan co-owner Raj Kundra ultimately confessed to betting on his team’s own matches, but the controversy did not stop there with Chennai team principal Gurunath Meiyappan being found guilty of the same offense.
Meiyappan, son-in-law of Chennai owner and then BCCI chief N Srinivasan, was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute alongside Kundra by the inquiry committee headed by Chief Justice Lodha.
Both Rajasthan and Chennai were subsequently handed two-year suspensions from the IPL in 2015, with the teams ultimately making their return last year.
CSK were given a two-year ban along with Rajasthan.
