IPL 2017: Top 5 controversies through IPL history
The IPL has been cricket’s biggest money spinner since its inception in 2008. Never since the Kerry Packer days have cricket fans seen a more colourful and enthralling extravaganza in the sport.
Going by its sheer magnitude and the euphoria around it, it is perhaps not very surprising that the IPL has seen its fair share of controversies over the seasons. From slaps to match-fixing to player and team bans, we have seen it all, haven’t we?
Let’s take a look at 5 of the biggest controversies that have been rocked the IPL since 2008:
#5 The slap-gate: Harbhajan slaps Sreesanth
At the end of the Mumbai Indians’ third match of IPL 2008, Harbhajan Singh slapped fast bowler Sreesanth when the players were shaking hands. As per a video footage, it appeared that Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth without any provocation. He shook hands with two players before Sreesanth’s turn came, and then instead of shaking hands with him, he slapped him and moved ahead to shake hands with other players.
Harbhajan was banned for the rest of IPL 2008 as a result, and also fined 100% of his match fees. MI coach Lalchand Rajput was also fined 50% of his fee for not doing anything to stop Harbhajan despite being right behind him in the line.
It was the first of many controversies in the IPL, and though the players hugged and made up after the match and Harbhajan didn’t appeal against the ban, the scars of the incident remain; in the minds of fans at least!