Top 5 biggest controversies in IPL history

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become more than just a cricket tournament. It’s a cultural event that brings sport, entertainment, and business together in a way no other league has. With billions of dollars involved, the presence of high-profile cricketers, Bollywood celebrities, and business tycoons ensures that the IPL is always in the limelight. But where there’s money and fame, controversies are bound to follow.

Since the inaugural edition in 2008, the league has seen its share of highs and lows. While it has displayed brilliant cricketing moments and life-changing opportunities for players, it has also been affected by scandals that have alarmed its credibility. From financial irregularities and match-fixing scandals to heated on-field spats and franchise conflicts, the IPL has seen it all. Despite these controversies, fans continue to fill stadiums, broadcasters continue to break records every year, and the IPL keeps growing stronger. 

Here are the five biggest controversies in IPL that shocked fans:

5. Harbhajan Singh slapping S Sreesanth during IPL 2008:

In the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, the first major controversy broke out when Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh slapped Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) pacer S Sreesanth after the match in Mohali on April 25. Punjab had comfortably defeated Mumbai by 66 runs, and moments after the game, cameras caught Sreesanth in tears after getting slapped. According to reports, Sreesanth had taunted Harbhajan, who reacted in frustration instead of addressing it in the dressing room.

As a result, Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the season and faced a five-match suspension in ODIs. Over the years, both players have moved past the incident, with Sreesanth clarifying that he wasn’t hurt physically but emotionally, as he had always looked up to Harbhajan like an elder brother. Both the players were also part of India's World Cup winning squads (2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup).

Also Check: Top 5 Indian players who have big chance to revive their career in IPL 2025