New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) The Indian Premier League (IPL) has significantly contributed to India’s status as a leading cricketing nation globally. While the IPL has transformed the sport and generated substantial revenue, it has also been marred by controversies that have affected its image. As the lucrative league enters its 18th season, we take a look back at some of the most notable controversies that have shaped the tournament's history.

When discussing controversies, the 2013 spot-fixing scandal is often the first to come to mind. This notorious incident in IPL history involved the arrests of three players - Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan - for their involvement in spot-fixing during the tournament. These players were accused of intentionally underperforming at certain stages of matches in exchange for money from bookies. In 2015, further allegations of spot-fixing and corruption were directed at RR co-owner Raj Kundra and CSK team principal Gurunath Meiyappan. Both teams faced a two-year suspension from the league, replaced by Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant. This scandal also resulted in lifetime bans for the players from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which were later reduced to seven years.

Sreesanth was not new to controversy, having been at the center of the infamous ‘Slapgate’ incident during the inaugural 2008 edition of the tournament. In a match between the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, a heated exchange escalated when Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth. This altercation attracted considerable media attention and led to widespread condemnation of Harbhajan’s actions, prompting him to apologize. The incident resulted in a disciplinary hearing, and Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the season.

IPL owners often find themselves in the spotlight as well. In 2012, Shahrukh Khan had a notorious confrontation with security staff, leading to a five-year ban imposed by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), preventing him from entering the stadium. The official narrative stated that SRK attempted to access the field after a victory, while he claimed the altercation was sparked by a religious remark made by a security officer.

Another significant controversy occurred during the 2013 IPL season between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir during a match featuring Royal Challengers Bengaluru and KKR. The situation escalated into a public confrontation after Kohli's dismissal, with Gambhir, known for his fiery temperament, confronting Kohli, leading to a widely discussed spat.

In 2023, the two squared off again when Kohli clashed with Afghanistan bowler Naveen ul Haq. Gambhir, serving as the mentor for Lucknow Super Giants at the time, supported Naveen, resulting in another exchange of words. However, both players later reconciled, moving past their earlier disputes since Gambhir's appointment as head coach of the Indian national team.

Since the tournament's inception, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a prominent figure in the IPL. However, during a 2019 match between CSK and RR at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Dhoni lost his composure. Facing a controversial no-ball call during a critical moment in the game, he stormed onto the field to confront the umpires after they overturned their initial decision. This breach of protocol, where players typically do not engage with umpires mid-match, led to a fine of 50 percent of his match fees, despite CSK winning the match.

One of the most recent controversies took place during the 2024 IPL when LSG’s owner Sanjiv Goenka and captain KL Rahul were seen in an intense discussion following LSG's heavy 10-wicket defeat to SRH. Goenka appeared visibly upset, and although the conversation remained inaudible, it gained considerable traction on social media. Rahul later described the exchange as ‘not the nicest thing’ to experience. While Goenka stated there were no hard feelings, Rahul was not retained by the team and has since joined Delhi Capitals.