Top 5 controversies that rocked cricketing circles in 2022

Cricket, this year, provided mouth-watering action to its fans with some mega cricketing events such as the Indian Premier League, Asia Cup 2022, ICC T20 World Cup 2022, and a wide array of riveting bilateral contests.

But one of the biggest sports in the world also witnessed some unsavoury incidents this year. While some sparked serious debates among supporters and analysts of the game, some incidents shook both the cricket fraternity and the fans of the sport.

Well, the game is known for entertaining its fans with its incredible spirit, and mutual respect, but this year there have been some incidents when the sport featured in the media for the wrong reasons. Let's go through five incidents that rocked the cricketing world in 2022:

5. Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals no-ball controversy

In the 34th game of this year’s Indian Premier League, the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) were looking to halt Rajasthan Royals' (RR) juggernaut. The game was very crucial for the Capitals as in six matches of the tournament till that stage, they had won three and lost three and hence were hungry for winning momentum.

After winning the toss, the DC skipper invited Rajasthan Royals to bat first and then the RR batter Jos Buttler made both the DC skipper and management regret that decision by playing a stellar innings of 116 runs off just 65 balls.

With Buttler’s astonishing batting display, RR put up a gigantic score of 222 at a loss of two wickets. Coming out to chase the humongous figure, the DC batters displayed a fighting spirit to take the game deep with the help of the rapid knocks from David Warner (28 runs off 14 balls), Rishabh Pant (44 off 24 deliveries), and Lalit Yadav (37 off 24 balls).

In the last over, DC had to notch up 36 runs to clinch the match. Taking the strike, Rovman Powell smashed three sixes on the first three deliveries off RR's Obed McCoy. 

On the third delivery, McCoy bowled a full toss that seemed above Powell's waist height but the on-field umpires neither called it a no-ball nor referred it to the third umpire. Noting these scenes from the dugout, an angry Pant protested and was about to call both batters back.

Shane Watson tried to calm down a frustrated-looking Pant but the DC skipper was in no mood to hear anything and sent assistant coach Pravin Amre to speak with the umpires on the matter. Finally, after a long drama, the match resumed and DC had to oblige to the umpires’ decision.

In the end, the contest was won by the Royals by 15 runs, and Pant was fined hundred percent of his match fees. Former cricketers like Mohammed Azharuddin, Hemang Badani, RP Singh, and Brad Hogg criticised Pant’s reaction on Twitter.