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Major Cricket Controversies In India

Cricket in India is more than just a sport; it is an emotion that is shared among all Indians alike. Whether it’s the T20 format or the ODI format, people love to see their players on the field competing for their country. Over the years, this game has attracted more and more people towards itself. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), cricket has over 1 billion fans globally, with the Indian sub-continent alone constituting more than 90% of them.

However, as this game has become an integral part of everyone’s life, it has also been marred by several controversies that have shocked every cricket lover in India. These controversies, ranging from match-fixing scandals to disciplinary issues, have had a lasting impact on the history of Indian cricket. This article delves into some of the most significant and unforgettable controversies that have shaken the cricketing landscape in India.

Cricketers Named In Controversy

MS Dhoni’s Legal Trouble

In 2015, MS Dhoni faced a challenging situation when he was accused of outraging religious sentiments. A social activist from Karnataka filed a criminal case against him in Bengaluru based on a magazine cover from 2013. The cover showed Dhoni holding various items, including a shoe, which allegedly denigrated a Hindu god Lord Vishnu.

A non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a court in Andhra Pradesh. Dhoni had to approach the Supreme Court to get the criminal proceedings against him quashed. The former Indian skipper argued that the complaint was filed to harass him. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, and the complaint was dismissed in 2016.

KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya At Koffee With Karan

In 2019, Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul featured on Karan Johar’s show Koffee with Karan. When Johar asked them about their sex lives and wild interests, Pandya made some offensive comments about women.
The show garnered severe criticism from the public, media, and cricket fraternity shortly after it became widely known.

To rapidly put things right, the BCCI took action against these two players and issued an instant suspension order. They were also sent back to India from Australia, where they were competing in a series against the Australians.
Both players afterwards apologized for their comments and pledged never to make such derogatory remarks about women again. After three years, the Jodhpur High Court granted relief to the players and Karan Johar in the case filed against all of them.

Monkeygate Case

During the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney in 2008, Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds engaged in a verbal argument. Symonds accused Singh of using a racist term, precisely the word “monkey,” which is considered derogatory towards black people.

The match referee, Mike Procter, took action, and after a four-hour hearing, Singh was given a three-test ban for breaching Level 3 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct. Later, ICC appeals commissioner Justice John Hansen declared Harbhajan ‘not guilty’ of racially insulting Symonds, and the three-match ban was reversed, with the off-spinner receiving a 50% match fee fine instead.

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Greg Chappell vs Sourav Ganguly

The controversy between Chappell and Ganguly started in 2005 when accusations were made that Chappell was undermining the Indian captain’s leadership role. This resulted in frequent disagreements and ultimately led to a breakdown in the relationship between the coach and skipper. As a consequence, Greg removed Ganguly from his captaincy position and excluded him from the team.

Under Chappell’s leadership, the Indian team faced a difficult phase and suffered a disappointing exit from the World Cup 2007. However, after BCCI took action against Chappell, he resigned, and India saw a positive atmosphere that helped them win the T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.

Match-Fixing Scandal Involves Mohammad Azharuddin

In 1990, Mohammad Azharuddin was appointed as the Indian cricket team’s captain and was highly respected for his unique style of batting. However, his reputation was tainted when he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal. In the year 2000, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was called in to investigate the matter, and Azharuddin was accused of accepting money in exchange for insider information and manipulating match results.

As a result of the investigation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned Azharuddin from professional cricket for life, which effectively ended his successful career. However, he later challenged the ban in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which overturned the decision in 2012 due to a lack of concrete evidence against him. This ruling allowed Azharuddin to participate in cricket-related activities once again.

Murder Charge On Navjot Singh Sidhu

In 1988, Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former Indian cricketer and politician, was charged with a murder case following a road rage incident in his hometown, Patiala. Sidhu and his friend Rupinder Singh had an argument with a Patiala resident, Gurnam Singh, over a parking issue.

As the argument escalated, Sidhu beat Gurnam, who was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead. A case was registered against Sidhu, but he was acquitted in 1999. However, in 2006, the Punjab and Haryana High Court found Sidhu and Rupinder guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced them to three years in jail.

After the High Court’s verdict, both parties took their case to the Supreme Court. Sidhu was eventually acquitted of the charge of culpable homicide and found guilty only on the grounds of voluntarily causing hurt to Gurnam. However, the deceased’s family filed a review petition in 2018, seeking harsher punishment for Sidhu’s offence and considering this case more severe than just a case of voluntary hurt. The Supreme Court accepted the petition, and on 19th May 2022, Sidhu got one year of imprisonment.

Harbhajan Singh Slaps S Sreesanth

During an Indian Premier League match between Punjab and Mumbai at PCA stadium in Mohali in 2008, Harbhajan Singh slapped fellow player S Sreesanth. The incident occurred as both teams were nearing the dugout after the match, which Mumbai lost by a fair margin.

Harbhajan was subsequently banned for the next match. Although many years have passed, he has expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged that they were unjustified. Sreesanth has also made it clear that he bears no ill will towards Harbhajan and that they remain good friends.

Virat Kohli’s Middle Finger Gesture To Aussies

During a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2012, Virat Kohli, the former Indian skipper, found himself in trouble when he showed his middle finger to the Australian crowd who were abusing him.

This incident occurred after Kohli scored only 23 runs in the first innings and was stationed near the boundary. Kohli’s actions were not well received, as he faced criticism from the local media for his “shameful” behavior. Additionally, referee Ranjan Madugalle imposed level two charges on Kohli, which included a 50% match fee penalty.

IPL Match Fixing Case

The arrest of former cricketers and team owners involved in spot-fixing during the IPL 2013 left Indian cricket fans in shock. Among those arrested were players from Rajasthan Royals, including S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, and Ajit Chandila, as well as team owners Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan.

As a consequence, both franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals(RR), were suspended for two years. Despite the passage of time, the matter remains alive in the minds of fans, and the BCCI stays vigilant to ensure that similar controversies do not develop in the future.

Ganguly-Dravid Word War

Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid are two Indian cricketers who have made their country proud internationally. However, during an interview in 2011, Ganguly remarked Dravid after getting replaced by him as team India’s captain during the Chappell era. Ganguly commented, “Dravid was the type of person who wants everything to go smoothly and did not have the courage to confront Chappell about his wrongdoings.”

Dravid, who usually avoids controversies, responded quickly, saying, “If Ganguly is saying I could not control Greg Chappell, he is entitled to an opinion. He has played for many years for India. But he can’t put words in my mouth as I have never had such a conversation with him”.

This controversy ended with Dravid’s response, and the two players did not further carry it on. However, the incident left the people of India in shock to see two cricket legends engaging in an unpleasant word war.

Conclusion

The Indian cricket community was severely impacted by the major controversies involving prominent players such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth, Rahul Dravid and many more. These incidents left a lasting impact that cannot be ignored .

Nonetheless, it is important to note that these controversies also led to positive changes, including increased awareness about ethical practices, debates about the sport’s integrity, and regulations to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair play. Although these incidents were disruptive, they serve as important reminders of the importance of upholding these values in cricket.

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