10 biggest controversies in Indian cricket history

Cricket is considered more than just a game in India, with the people looking for inspiration and scrutinizing each player’s good or bad decisions. In the past, we have seen several conflicts and controversies that have rocked the cricketing fraternity and become talking points all around the world. Just like players from other countries, Indian cricketers have also a part of several such conflicts and controversies that they would have liked to avoid, but found themselves involved in. On that note, let us take a look at the 10 biggest controversies in Indian cricket history. 10. Mike Denness vs The Indian Cricket Team Mike Denness. (Photo by Jon Buckle/EMPICS via Getty Images) Former England skipper and match referee Mike Denness created one of the biggest controversies in the cricketing arena after he handed bans to several Indian cricketers after a Test between India and South Africa in 2001. Much to the shock of the cricketing fraternity, Denness accused Sachin Tendulkar of ball tampering and handed him a match ban. Not only Tendulkar but Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta, Harbhajan Singh, and Shiv Sunder Das were also banned for one match due to excessive appeal. Denness also banned Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly for a Test and two ODIs for failing to keep his team under control. Denness’ actions did not go down well with the Indian fans as they burnt his effigies. Later on, Denness was removed from the match referee post for the next match, with the ICC declaring the third Test unofficial. The top body also overturned the ban on Tendulkar and Ganguly. 9. Criminal case Against MS Dhoni MS Dhoni. (photo source: IPL/BCCI) MS Dhoni found himself in a tough spot after a criminal case was filed against him in 2015. Jayakumar Hiremath, a Karnataka-based social activist, had lodged a case against him in Bengaluru for allegedly outraging religious sentiments. To note, the complaint was filed based on a magazine cover which was released in 2013, in which the former Indian skipper was seen holding several things in his hands, including a shoe. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him a court in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, for allegedly ‘denigrating’ a Hindu god. Dhoni had to then knock on the doors of the Supreme Court for quashing the criminal proceedings against him. The World Cup-winning skipper pleaded that complaint filed against him was to just harass him. The Supreme Court later made its decision in Dhoni’s favor as the complaint got quashed in 2016. 8. Hardik Pandya And KL Rahul at Koffee With Karan Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter) KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya landed themselves in big trouble over their sexist and racist comments on a popular TV show, Koffee With Karan, in 2019. In a show aired on January 6, both Pandya and Rahul talked about their relationships, crushes, favorite movies, actors, and actresses. While Rahul was seen as being quiet most of the time or choosing his words wisely, Pandya boasted about hooking up with several women. The star all-rounder was also replaced in the Indian team by Vijay Shankar for limited-over matches against Australia and New Zealand. Former cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Gavaskar also slammed both Rahul and Pandya for their remarks on the show. 7. Greg Chappell vs Sourav Ganguly Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Indian cricket’s worst captain-coach controversy was between Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly. It all started during India’s tour of Zimbabwe when Chappell suggested that Ganguly should be dropped for the Indian test side. He also suggested that Ganguly is not mentally and physically fit to lead the Indian team. Ganguly also fired shots saying that it was his biggest mistake to recommend Greg Chappell as India’s coach. After the Zimbabwe tour, the chief selectors decided to sack Ganguly as captain and later dropped him from the ODI side as well. Dropping Ganguly from the Indian side did not go down well with the Indian fans as they burnt Chappell’s effigies and protested on the roads. His infamous stint as Indian head coach came to an end after Men in Blue exited from the 2007 World Cup in the group stage. 6. The Sydney Test controversy Andrew Symonds of Australia watches Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of the most controversial Tests was played between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2007-08. As many as nine wrong umpiring decisions resulted in India’s loss. At first, Michael Clarke controversially caught batter Sourav Ganguly in slips. Even though the replays suggested otherwise, Ricky Ponting was seen suggesting to the umpires that he thought Ganguly was out. Later in the match, Andrew Symons accused India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh of racial abuse with match referee Mike Procter banning Harbhajan for three matches. It came to a point when the visitors decided to withdraw from the tour before ICC formed a disciplinary committee to look into the matter. After the committee’s inquiry, the three-match Test ban was lifted from Harbhajan Singh with India also winning the next Test match. 5. IPL Spot fixing and betting controversy S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Indian cricket fans were left in shock after a series of arrests of former cricketers and team owners were arrested after their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the India Premier League (IPL) 2013. Two franchises involved in this turmoil included Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). The Delhi Police arrested three RR players including S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, and Ajit Chandila. Apart from that, the team’s owners Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan were also arrested and both franchises CSK and RR were suspended for two years. Even after years of passing, the IPL spot-fixing scandal remains fresh in the memory of the Indian fans. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also maintains a stringent eye during the tournament and ensures that no such controversies get associated with IPL. 4. The fall of Mohammad Azharuddin Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images ) Known as one of the most successful captains to lead the Indian side, Mohammad Azharuddin‘s international career was marred with controversies. The right-handed batter was allegedly fixing international matches for money. In a report submitted by CBI, it was said that Azharuddin also introduced former South Africa skipper Hansie Cronje to a group of bookies. Things turned bad to worse for the former skipper as Cronje named him for introducing him to the group of bookies during a court session. It also came to the light that several other cricketers including Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, and Manoj Prabhakar were also allegedly involved in the practice. In response to the allegations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Azharuddin from participating in international fixtures. However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted the ban in 2012. 3. Murder charges on Navjot Singh Sidhu Navjot Singh Sidhu. (Photo Source: Twitter) Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was charged with a murder case in 1988. To note, Sidhu and his friend Rupinder Singh Sandhu had allegedly beaten a 65-year-old named Gurnam Singh in Patiala, who was asking them to remove their vehicle parked in the middle of the road. Following the beating, an injured Gurnam was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead, leading to a murder case against Sidhu and his friend. The local district and session court acquitted Sidhu and his friend due to lack of evidence, but the decision was overturned by the high court and Sidhu went to jail before being released on bail in the same year (2007). The victim’s family then approached the Supreme Court and filed a review petition. Sidhu opposed the plea seeking there was no evidence that the death of the victim was caused by a single blow. Sidhu had called the incident “an accident, nothing else”. 2. Harbhajan Singh-S Sreesanth slapgate Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth. (Photo Source: Twitter) The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was rocked by a controversy involving former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer S Sreesanth. The incident occurred during a group stage match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). As stated, Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth as both teams were nearing the dugout after the match. Being led by Harbhajan himself, the five-time champions lost that match by a fair margin, which reportedly infuriated the bowler to take such steps. After the controversy, Harbhajan was banned for the next match. While several years have passed, Harbhajan has often said that still regrets his actions and has publicly stated that his actions were unjustified. Former pacer Sreesanth has also earlier stated that there are no hard feelings between them and they are good friends. 1. Middle finger gesture by Virat Kohli Virat Kohli of India gestures with his middle finger to the crowd. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli is known to be a lively character on the field and does not back from any argument or stand behind his teammates. However, there was a time when Kohli’s actions landed him in a spot of bother. Team India was taking on Australia during a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2012. After onlymanaging to score 23 runs in the first innings, a frustrated young Kohli was stationed near the boundary when the local Australian crowd started abusing him. In reply, Kohli showed his middle finger to the abusers in the crowd. Kohli’s gestures were not welcomed as the local media criticized Kohli for his ‘shameful’ act. The referee Ranjan Madugalle also laid level two charges on him, which also included a penalty of 50% of his match fee.

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10 biggest controversies in Indian cricket history

Several prominent cricketers including MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Mohammad Azharuddin have been involved in controversies over the years.

8. Hardik Pandya And KL Rahul at Koffee With Karan

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