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The Indian Premier League is counted among the most popular T20 leagues in the world. This tournament was started in 2008. This T20 tournament, which has come a long way since then, also involved some controversies due to which the fans bowed their heads in shame.
The journey of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been almost two decades long. During this period, one exciting season was witnessed in the tournament. Many controversies also came to light. There were some incidents which created an uproar in the world of cricket. This also harmed the image of the game. Despite all this, the popularity of IPL has continued to increase.
Currently the 19th season of IPL is being played. Players from India and around the world have once again entered the field for 10 franchises. This season is now slowly gaining momentum. The competition between teams in the playoff race has started entertaining the fans. Let us know about the five biggest controversies in the history of IPL before the playoffs which shook the league.
1. Harbhajan-S Sreesanth “Slapgate” controversy: One of the earliest controversies of the IPL occurred in the 2008 season. After the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, Harbhajan Singh S. Sreesanth was slapped. This shocking moment left Sreesanth crying on the field and made headlines as “Slapgate”.
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2. S. Sreesanth’s spot-fixing ban: Another big controversy came to light in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing controversy, when Sreesanth along with Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan were accused of being involved in fixing. This incident was followed by bans and investigations, which raised questions about the credibility of the league and drew worldwide attention to corruption in cricket.
3. Two-year ban on CSK and Rajasthan Royals: Following the investigation into betting and spot-fixing related to the 2013 season, the two champion teams were suspended from the IPL. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were banned for two years (2016 and 2017). During this period, teams like Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions participated in the tournament in their place.
4. One year IPL ban on Ravindra Jadeja: In 2010, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was banned for one year from IPL. BCCI imposed this ban because Jadeja had violated the contract rules by talking to other franchises while he was under contract with Rajasthan Royals.
5. Arrest of Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach: Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, was in the news in 2012. He was arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a woman in a hotel in Delhi during the IPL season. This matter was widely covered in the media and another name was added to the controversial chapters of IPL.
Shahrukh Khan’s stadium banned: In a separate controversy, Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shahrukh Khan was involved. In 2012, he had an argument with the security personnel during a match at Wankhede Stadium. After this incident, Shahrukh Khan was banned from entering the stadium for five years, adding another dramatic chapter to the history of IPL.
