Since its inception in 2008, controversies have gone parallel alongside the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). From ugly brawls to spot-fixing, the glitzy tournament has seen it all. Suvajit Mustafi lists out 10 controversies from the eighth edition of the IPL.
1. Chennai Super Kings valued at Rs 5 lakhs 
With the name of cricket czar N Srinivasan around, how can CSK be far away from controversies? The controversy revolved around the franchise being valued at Rs 5 lakhs by its owner. According to reports, the team was valued at over Rs 450 crore last year. After Supreme Court’s orders, CSK was transferred to a subsidiary called Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. The IPL Governing Council refused to accept the valuation.
2. Match-fixing demons returns to haunt Rajasthan RoyalsÂ
The 2013 season was a nightmare for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Though they played brilliantly under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, three of their top cricketers were found involved in match-fixing. This season, the franchise disclosed that one of their players was approached for fixing by a player not part of IPL. The RR player refused the proposal and informed it to the team management, who reported it to BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
3. Kolkata Knight Riders threaten to pull out if Sunil Narine isn’t allowed to bowl
Even before the tournament started, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) threatened to pull out of the competition if the side’s star spinner Narine wasn’t allowed to bowl. During CLT20 in 2014, Narine was banned by BCCI after being reported for suspect action. At the start of the tournament, he was cleared by BCCI after undergoing biomechanical tests at their centre in Chennai. During the tournament, he was reported again and then barred from bowling off-spin. The episode had an impact on Narine, who failed to replicate his magic of previous editions as the then defending champions KKR failed to make it to the playoffs.
4. Robin Uthappa allegedly holds young Sarfaraz Khan’s collar
IPL is never short of physical action, remember Harbhajan-Sreesanth and Pollard-Starc? This year too wasn’t different. Early in the tournament, there were reports that KKR’s Robin Uthappa had an altercation with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Sarfaraz Khan, who is the youngest ever player in the tournament, at Eden Gardens. Uthappa allegedly held the 17-year-old by the collar. It’s also said that the incident happened behind the sight-screen and RCB’s AB de Villiers and Ashok Dinda had rushed to the rescue of Sarfaraz. However match referee Javagal Srinath denied receiving any complaints. Later, KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir called it “not a major issue†saying it “happens with a lot of peopleâ€.
5. Kieron Pollard tapes his mouth after being warned by the umpire
RCB’s Chris Gayle was struggling to negotiate with Mumbai Indians (MI) Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard decided to have a go at his Caribbean teammate at the packed Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Not happy with the chatter, umpire warned Pollard to shut his mouth and the all-rounder responded by literally putting a tape on his mouth. This act by Pollard was largely criticised and dubbed un-gentlemanly.
6. Lalit Modi raises fixing storm, again
Earlier this month, former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi created a controversy when he said at least four players from CSK were involved in fixing. Through a tweet, he requested the Supreme Court to reveal the names of the four CSK players.
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So here is my BREAKING STORY – IF THE #HONORABLE #SUPREME #COURT WAS TO REVEAL THE NAMES OF PLAYERS INVOLVED IN FIXING – at least 4 are CSK
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) May 11, 2015
What say @BCCI @ICC @IPL or u going to say names cannot be revealed. And make a drama. As u all have your hands dirty. Let’s see if u do
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) May 11, 2015
By the way the #names when disclosed have #both #indian and #international #players #names on the #list. This list is just #tipofficeberg
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) May 11, 2015
By the way it’s not just #players from #Csk – it’s #across the #board. Only #difference is that @ChennaiIPL #owner started this and runs it
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) May 11, 2015
No one really took serious note of Modi’s allegations as the tournament continued to garner interest. It failed to even raise a storm in the team cup.
7. Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik have a heated argument with umpire Kumara Dharmasena
Persistent rains affected the crucial match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The match was earlier decided to be a 11-over affair and during the end stages of the first innings, the incessant rain again disrupted the play but the umpires decided to continue with the game. The soapy ball resulted in Kohl’s misfield as the leather slipped out of his hands. An angry RCB skipper asked umpire Kumara Dharmasena on why the match is being continued in such heavy rains. Even after the end of innings, Kohli’s teammate Dinesh Karthik took over and the argument turned out to be a heated one. Dharmasena looked peeved and later, Karthik was fined 20 percent of his match fees for breaching the IPL code of conduct.
8. ACSU makes observations regarding violation of anti-corruption code by players and franchises
In a report from Indian Express, an email from ACSU have made several observations citing several instances of violations of the anti-corruption code by players and franchises. The breaches happened in the seventh edition and the violations include a party hosted by Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) co-owner Preity Zinta in a yacht. It was also reported that outsiders were present at a party hosted for KKR by Shah Rukh Khan’s friend and also by Delhi Daredevils (DD).
9. Virat Kohli breaches ACSU protocol, meets Anushka Sharma during the match
ACSU protocol states that players can’t meet any non-accredited members during the match but Kohli was found guilty of breaching the code of behaviour by meeting his girlfriend Anushka Sharma during the rain-break in their match against DD at Bangalore. He was let off by the BCCI, who termed the incident as “minor digressionâ€.
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10. MS Dhoni fined for “horrible decision†comment
CSK skipper Dhoni is a calm customer who doesn’t get emotional with on-field things. But in the post match interview after his side’s defeat in the first qualifier against MI, Dhoni unexpectedly said, “I felt we lost too many in the middle. Not to forget Dwayne Smith got a horrible decision by any standards, but overall I think we need to blame ourselves, we were not up to the mark.†No doubt, Smith’s leg before decision by umpire Richard Illingworth was certainly a poor one but Dhoni calling it “horribleâ€, earned him a 10 percent fine.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades , all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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