5 biggest fights in IPL history

It is short and swift and with the game changing with the unfailing volatility of an ocean current, the IPL has witnessed more than a fair share of burnt fuses. The money and madness that surrounds a circus of this nature only serves to accentuate and nourish the ego of players. In this feature we look at some of the most sensational scuffles that erupted in the heat of the battle.These are incidents that held a mirror to the volatile character of the people involved, just as much as they offered us undiluted entertainment, real time and impulsive.

#5 Shane Warne and Sourav Ganguly, IPL 2008

This one is from the very first edition. Considering the legends involved, it also deserves to etched in wrought iron on the annals of IPL history. Sourav Ganguly of the Kolkata Knight Riders was thought to have been caught by Graeme Smith at deep midwicket. The former Indian captain though was not convinced, illegitimately forcing the umpires to ask for a replay.

Ganguly’s actions had already infuriated Warne and when third umpire Asad Rauf could not offer a decisive verdict, the Aussie just blew his top. Eventually, Ganguly departed in the next over to an unceremonious send off and Rajasthan Royals won the match. But Warne carried on his tirade into the media to express his displeasure with the KKR captain.

"If an international captain like Graeme Smith caught it and said it was a clean catch and Rudi Koertzen said he caught it,” underlined Warne. “And anyway, the players aren't allowed to ask for the umpire. But Sourav asked the Indian umpire to go to the TV replay. That's not in the spirit of the game so I was very, very disappointed with Sourav."

The match referee Farokh Engineer, docked 10% match fee from both Ganguly and Warne for their acts – the former for a level 1 offense and the latter was found to violate section 1.7 of the code, related to "public criticism of, or inappropriate comment on, a match-related incident or official".

Incidentally even the on field umpire Pratap Kumar wasn’t spared. He was suspended for a match on grounds of referring a decision without adequate reason, making him the second umpire to have been punished in the 2008 IPL after Amiesh Saheba.