Presently, the IPL is in its 15th edition and over the years it has had its share of ups and downs. The cash-rich Indian T-20 league has been in news for both right and wrong reasons. Deservedly, the tournament has been credited with narrowing the demand and supply gap of quality cricketers by regularly feeding Team India as per its needs.
Unarguably, Indian cricket’s formidable strength inside as well as outside the playing XI can be attributed to the IPL, to a great degree. However, like all the prestigious events, IPL also faced some unpleasant moments in certain editions. So, the occasion aptly warrants a throwback to the times when the mega event attracted some negative vibes.
Chahal’s Latest Revelations About A 2013 Murky Episode
Yuzhvendra Chahal, who currently plays for Rajasthan Royals (RR), recounted a harrowing experience to his teammate R Ashwin on an online talk show. Incidentally, when the offie was with the Mumbai Indians during the 2013 season he went through a life-threatening situation due to the misdemeanour of a highly stoned teammate of the MI. The anonymous player in question in an inebriated state of mind dangled Chahal from the 15th floor a balcony. Luckily for him, some players who were standing nearby came to his rescue and got him out of a dangerous situation. The offie also revealed that he almost passed out after the incident. Hence, it is worth asking why MI kept mum on such a grave matter all along?
The 2013 Fixing Saga That Tarnished The Image Of The IPL
In the 2013 edition, the big-ticket tournament earned undesirable scrutiny and put several people involved in the event in jeopardy, especially N Srinivasan, the then BCCI boss and owner of the Chennai Super Kings team, and Raj Kundra, the RR owner. In a sudden turn of events, it came to light that Srini’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyyappan, who was always spotted with the CSK team members, had been in regular touch with the bookies. To escape unscathed, Srinivasan tried to sweep the matter under the carpet but the intervention of the apex court ensured that both CSK, as well as RR, were disallowed from participating in the event for two years. In a related incident that year, Delhi Police arrested three Indian players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila over fixing charges. Sreesanth and Chavan were cleared of all the charges but Chandila was given a life ban by the BCCI in 2016.
The Lalit Modi: The Fallen Hero
The IPL happens to be the baby of Lalit Modi and he received a lot of praise for coming up with an idea of a world-class domestic T-20 league. He immediately became an overnight sensation due to his innovative thinking. Unfortunately, Modi had to take the road to perdition in 2010 over corrupt practices, favouritism and financial misconduct. Like a bolt from the blue, Rajasthan Cricket Association President instantly turned into a villain from a hero as it came to light that he was unduly favouring his relatives and friends while giving tenders and contracts. This forced the BCCI to award a life ban to Modi in 2013 and the brain behind the IPL is currently leading the life of a fugitive outside India.
There’s Something About “King Khan” And Wankhede
Much before the Sameer Wankhede incident, the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Rider and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan found himself at odds with the security forces at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The snaps showing the heated arguments between SRK and security officials were all over the internet and the media. The actor on his part said that he was not at fault as the guards behaved rudely with some children and his friends, but the guards on the contrary accused SRK of misusing his star stature and misbehaving with them in a drunken stupor. Maharashtra Cricket Association, which hardly condones any bad behaviour banned SRK from entering the stadium for five years over the fracas he had with the security officials.
Bhajji-Sreesanth Drama: The Slap & Sob Story
The ever-controversial, S Sreesanth, before getting embroiled in a spot-fixing controversy, also made news in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. The tournament was already attracting a lot of eyeballs over its glitz and glamour, but a constantly sobbing Sreesanth in a post-match presentation ceremony intrigued and baffled many. Later on, the temperamental pacer from Kerala, then playing for Kings XI Punjab, alleged that he was slapped by Harbhajan Singh, with Mumbai Indians in 2008, during the match. The drama and melancholy witnessed on TV prompted BCCI to ban Harbhajan for the entire season and also dock off his salary pertaining to the edition. Despite the players burying the hatchet some years later, the matter remains shrouded in mystery.
