Cricket is frequently regarded as a religion in India and is far more popular than any other sport, with fans eager to see their favourite players perform well. In the past, fans saw several players involved in issues that shook the cricket community and became global discussion points.

Cricket history has witnessed several incidents involving foreign and domestic players, shaking the sport and becoming a hot topic among millions of cricket fans. Indian cricketers have also been involved in various similar confrontations and scandals. On that point, let us look at the top five controversies in Indian cricket history.

The 2000 Match-fixing story

The match-fixing incident of 2000 shocked the whole cricketing community. The incident occurred during the South African team’s 2000 tour to India when Delhi police overheard a conversation between a bookmaker and Proteas captain Hansie Cronje while listening to criminal discussions. The theme of the talk was match-fixing.

Much to the amazement of the cricketing community, Delhi Police filed a case against Cronje, who later denied the claims. Later, the South African cricket authority established the King’s Commission to investigate, and prominent figures such as the then-Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, and famed all-rounder Ajay Jadeja were added to the match-fixing list. According to a dossier presented by the CBI, Mohammad Azharuddin also introduced former South African captain Hansie Cronje to a gang of bookmakers.

Greg Chappell vs Sourav Ganguly

Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly had the worst captain-coach conflict in Indian cricket history, and it was undoubtedly one of the worst in Indian cricket textbooks. It all began during India’s tour of Zimbabwe when Chappell urged that Ganguly be dismissed from the Indian test team. He also claimed that Ganguly is neither psychologically or physically prepared to head the Indian squad. Ganguly also criticised himself for recommending Greg Chappell as India’s coach.

Following the Zimbabwe trip, the leading selectors decided to remove Ganguly as captain, and he was eventually sacked from the ODI team as well. The decision to drop Ganguly from the Indian team did not go well with Indian supporters, who burned Chappell’s effigies and protested on the streets. His notorious tenure as Indian head coach ended when the Men in Blue were eliminated from the 2007 World Cup in the group round.

The Monkeygate Incident: Harbhajan Singh vs Andrew Symonds

The controversial clash between India’s reliable spinner, Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s top all-rounder, Andrew Symonds, a.k.a, the Monkeygate incident, occurred during India’s 2008 tour of Australia and is regarded as one of the most significant scandals in Indian cricket history.

The incident saw a confrontation between Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second match at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. It reached the point where the tourists chose to withdraw from the trip before the ICC constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate the situation. Next, the committee’s investigation, Harbhajan Singh’s three-match Test suspension was removed, and India won the next Test match.

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IPL & Spot-fixing

This controversy shocked millions of cricket fans in India after learning that the Indian Premier League 2013 season had been tarnished by spot-fixing and betting events. Two well-known IPL franchises, the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, were banned for two years in a row due to their involvement in the betting scam.

On the other hand, the Delhi Police detained three Rajasthan Royals players, S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan, for spot-fixing accusations in the IPL. The team’s owners, Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan, were arrested, and both CSK and RR franchises were suspended for two years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) closely checks the competition to ensure no such disputes arise.

Virat Kohli vs Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble’s dismissal as head coach of the Indian cricket team in 2017 remains one of the most contentious issues in Indian cricket. Following India’s defeat against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, Kumble was sacked as the team’s head coach. Kumble was asked to resign after only one year as the team’s head coach.

At the time, various publications highlighted conflicts between Kohli and Kumble as the primary cause for his dismissal as head coach. The captain and head coach were apparently at odds, which resulted in the dramatic firing. According to reports, Kohli was contacted when the authorities decided to extend the coach’s employment, but he stated that Kumble’s tutoring made junior players feel “intimidated”.

Indian cricket legend Harbhajan Singh issued a clarification after he and fellow members of the India Champions team were criticized by disability rights groups for allegedly mocking people with disabilities in a viral video. The video, shared on Instagram, was posted after India Champions defeated Pakistan Champions by five wickets in the World Championship of Legends final.

The video features cricket icons Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina limping and holding their backs, presumably in jest, following their title-winning run. This portrayal, however, drew significant backlash from disability rights advocates who found the video offensive.

Harbhajan responds to criticism

Taking to Twitter, Harbhajan Singh addressed the controversy surrounding the video. He explained that the social media post was not intended to mock people with disabilities but was a light-hearted moment among the players after an intense match. Harbhajan’s detailed message aimed to clear the air and apologize to those who were offended by the video.

The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled condemned the post as “totally disgraceful.” Arman Ali, the executive director at the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to address the issue. Additionally, a police complaint has been filed against the former Team India stars involved in the video.

‘We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments…’

“Just wanted to clear to our people who are complaining about our recent videos of Tauba Tauba on social media after winning the championship here in England. We didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments. We respect every individual and community. And this video was just to reflect to our bodies after playing continues cricket for 15 days. SORE bodies.. we r not trying to insult or offend anyone.. still if people think we hv done something wrong ..All I can say from my side. SORRY to everyone .. plz let’s stop this here and move forward. Stay happy and healthy. Love to all. Regards,” Harbhajan said.

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The incident highlights the importance of sensitivity and awareness regarding disability representation in media. Harbhajan Singh’s response underscores the need for public figures to be mindful of their influence and the impact of their actions on diverse communities.

Manasi Joshi, a top para-badminton champion, openly criticized Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina for their lack of awareness and sensitivity in a video they posted. She stressed the need to understand and respect the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina, former India cricketers, are facing backlash after Manasi Joshi accused them of mocking the way people with disabilities walk.

Manasi, a former world no. 1 in her SL3 badminton category, called out the cricketers for their insensitive Instagram reel posted after their win against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends tournament.

Harbhajan shared a video on Sunday showing the ex-India players limping and dancing to the Bollywood song “Tauba Tauba” after the match. India Champions, led by Ambati Rayudu’s 50 run performance, chased a 157 run target in the final over.

“Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket. Every part of the body is sore,” Harbhajan wrote.

The controversial reel

Joshi, an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities, expressed her disappointment and anger over the insensitive content.

Manasi Joshi’s advocacy and response

“Wanted more responsibility from the stars that you all are, please do not mock at the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny.

“You don’t know how much harm your behaviour can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is ok to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs. More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel. If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for public platform,” Manasi wrote

“This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking the gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India,” Manasi added.

India’s ace batsman, Virat Kohli, is gearing up to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pre-season camp ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. According to reports from India Today, Kohli is slated to link up with the team before March 17th.

Kohli’s Return: Key milestone in IPL 2024 preparation

Kohli’s arrival coincides with RCB’s annual ‘Unbox’ promotional event on March 19th at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This timing aligns with the team’s preparations before their first match against CSK in Chennai on March 22nd.

The IPL 2024 season marks Kohli’s return to competitive cricket after a hiatus of two and a half months. His last appearance was during the T20I series against Afghanistan. Following the T20 World Cup 2022, Kohli made a comeback in the T20Is, featuring in the three-match series.

Initially named in the Indian squad for the Test series against England, Kohli withdrew at the eleventh hour due to family commitments. It later emerged that his wife had given birth to their second child in London.

The upcoming IPL holds significant importance for Kohli amidst speculation surrounding his T20I future. Some reports indicate doubts over his selection for the T20 World Cup 2024, with selectors allegedly expressing reservations.

According to reports, selectors believe that the slower pitches in the West Indies may not align with Virat Kohli’s playing style, prompting discussions about making room for younger talents. Consequently, the impending IPL 2024 holds immense significance for Kohli as it may influence his inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Kohli is eager to leave a substantial mark in the tournament. As the IPL’s top run-scorer and a formidable force for his team, he aims to lead them to their inaugural title victory in the league.

Harbhajan Singh: Virat Kohli needs a season similar to 2016

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh suggests that for IPL 2024, Virat Kohli must be ready to bat for the entire 20 overs. Singh believes that if Kohli achieves this, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could deliver a match-winning performance.

Singh emphasized the importance of Kohli replicating his stellar 2016 season, during which he amassed 973 runs. The former off-spinner asserted that such a performance from Kohli could significantly bolster RCB’s chances of success. Speaking to Star Sports, Singh elaborated.

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“Should Kohli commit to batting for the full 20 overs, he could deliver a match-winning performance. Achieving two centuries at the Chinnaswamy Stadium doesn’t guarantee the same outcome at Chepauk.”

“It’s crucial for him to replicate a season similar to 2016, as his runs will propel the team forward. Whether this will lead to winning the cup remains uncertain.”The IPL 2024 opener is scheduled between RCB and CSK on March 22nd at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Harbhajan Singh, ex-Indian cricketer, suggests that Glenn Maxwell, a key batsman for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, will face challenges against Ravindra Jadeja of the Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2024 opener. He delves into the historical rivalry between the two teams and highlights Maxwell’s ongoing difficulty against Jadeja, indicating that this trend is likely to persist in the forthcoming season.

During an interview with Star Sports, Harbhajan elaborated on how Jadeja could emerge victorious once more when the two teams clash in the highly anticipated opening match on March 22 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Harbhajan’s Insights: Maxwell-Jadeja Battle Preview

“It’s a significant challenge for anyone to step out and immediately start hitting sixes,” he remarked. “You need to allocate some time to build your innings with singles and doubles. If you neglect this initial phase of playing at least 10 balls before attempting boundaries, you’re exposing yourself to risk. There’s always the chance of getting out prematurely. In this specific encounter, I believe Jadeja will have the upper hand over Maxwell on this pitch, particularly since it offers some assistance to Jadeja,” explained Harbhajan.

Despite Maxwell’s recent outstanding performances in the IPL, Jadeja’s spin expertise has consistently posed a challenge for him. Out of the 11 encounters between them in the league, Jadeja has dismissed Maxwell 6 times, restricting him to just 70 runs off 51 deliveries.

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Acknowledging Maxwell’s potential threat for RCB, particularly when he’s in his explosive form, Harbhajan emphasized Maxwell’s ability to turn the game around single-handedly. Maxwell’s remarkable performance in IPL 2023, where he scored 400 runs with some dazzling displays, further highlights his danger at the crease.

“On his day, Maxwell is unstoppable. However, on this pitch, it’ll be tough for anyone to start hitting sixes right from the get-go. But if anyone can do it, it’s Maxwell. Let’s see who comes out on top in this rivalry,” remarked Harbhajan.

Maxwell enters the IPL 2024 season with confidence following his standout performance in the World Cup in India, including a double hundred, and a century against India in a T20I series post the World Cup.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said that the Indian team should go with Ravichandran Ashwin at No. 8 instead of seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur against South Africa. however, India will play against the Proteas in a two-match Test series, starting at the SuperSport Park Stadium on Boxing Day (December 26) as well.

However, in overseas conditions, Team India usually play with a five-bowler theory with three pacers, a spinning all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja and Thakur as well. However, Mohammed Shami is unavailable and Prasidh Krishna is likely to play. Hence, Harbhajan feels they need batting depth which Ashwin could give.

On his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh said: “According to me Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open. Shubman Gill would come in at number three and the fourth spot will be for Virat Kohli. The fifth and sixth spots belong to Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul respectively. For number seven Ravindra Jadeja but the biggest question comes at number 8 with Ashwin and Shardul available. I feel Ashwin should play at number 8 because you have Jasprit Bumrah for number 9, Siraj for 10 and Prasidh Krishna for 11.”

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Harbhajan Singh further added: “But here I feel the conditions will be hot, the pitch will be hard, the bounce will be there and you have three pacers so I think India should go with two spinners. I feel South Africa would love to place pace so I think you should play on your strengths. I feel Ashwin should play but I don’t see that happening.”

However, Harbhajan Singh still supported his statement during the WTC final 2023 that Team India made the right decision by dropping Ravichandran Ashwin over Thakur against Australia. He also shared how conditions were different in England than they are in South Africa, which gave a spot for the all-rounder as well.

“The biggest debate is whether Shardul should play or Ashwin, this topic became a heated discussion during the World Test Championship. The conditions there were different because the ball seams on Day 1 so I feel Shardul was the right choice according to those conditions. There was a lot of grass on the wicket, even though he couldn’t make an impact I feel the decision was right,” Harbhajan Singh concluded.

India’s XI for the first Test against Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur has been selected by veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh. In the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will begin on February 9, both teams’ chances of reaching the World Test Championship final are in jeopardy.

The Indian cricket team is experiencing an injury crisis due to the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah. As a result, the team management is in a difficult position to select their strongest XI in their absence.

Harbhajan has named his XI, leaving out a few notable players. He had a dominating Test record against Australia, taking 95 wickets in 18 matches

The veteran offspinner chose Shubman Gill and skipper Rohit Sharma to open the innings instead of vice-captain KL Rahul. The 23-year-old has scored centuries in a variety of formats over the past year and is in excellent form. Rahul has already lost his ODI vice-captainship to Hardik Pandya, despite his recent slump and inability to score big runs.

In spite of Kuldeep Yadav’s recent memorable performances in both white-ball and red-ball formats, he left Kuldeep Yadav out of the XI and selected Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel to form the spin trio.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, ranked three and four, respectively, were the Turbanator’s obvious selections. He chose Suryakumar Yadav to make his Test debut for India when he was just 5 years old. Another debutant, KS Bharat, made his debut as a wicketkeeper-batter.

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Because the Nagpur surface is anticipated to be a rank-turner, Harbhajan selected Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Shami as the two frontline pacers in the XI.

Together, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are fondly called ‘KulCha’ in the Indian cricket circle. Both are good friends and have had a similar fate recently as they lost their respective places in the Indian white-ball team.  But now ‘KulCha’ are back in form in IPL 2022. They are the two most successful bowlers in the event. Friends off the field, Yadav and Chahal are in a tight fight for the Purple Cap, currently being held by Chahal, who has 19 wickets from eight matches. Both started their journey together against South Africa and shone with the ball. Now, the question is will these two again be playing together in that blue jersey? Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh weighed in.

“I don’t know why they (selectors) broke that partnership which was doing well for India. I certainly believe that you have to bring ‘Kulcha’ back, Kuldeep and Yuzvendra, I think they have been brilliant for team India. When they played together, they took wickets in the middle overs, whether it was T20s, ODIs or any format, they played together, they were very successful. It will be great to see them bowling in Australia, where the grounds are big and they both are quality bowlers. Their mentality is always to take wickets,” Singh said at the launch event of Dream Set Go, also attended by former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman.

Recently, Kuldeep Yadav had revealed that Chahal stood by him in troubled times and said that he is like an elder brother. “He has encouraged me a lot. He has been like a big brother and stood by me during my bad times. In my heart, I want him to go and win the Purple Cap because he has been bowling exceptionally over the past four years,” said Yadav.

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Harbhajan Singh bats for KulCha inclusion in India’s T20 WC squad

“When you fail in life, you get to know where you went wrong. When you manage to figure that out, it makes you mentally strong and you are no longer afraid of failure.” Yadav had said. Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has batted for KulCha inclusion in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup later this year, saying the two spinners shouldn’t have been dropped at the first place. A couple of years ago, the ‘Kul-Cha’ duo was a vital part of India’s white-ball teams due to their ability to take wickets in the middle overs.

However, KulCha form dipped post the 2019 World Cup and subsequently, they faced the axe as well. In fact, none of the two spinners featured in the T20 World Cup 2021. Nonetheless, the two wrist spinners have roared back to form and are enjoying a sensational run in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While Chahal is leading the Purple Cap race with 19 wickets in 10 games, Kuldeep is on the second place with 18 scalps. As the duo has been on a roll this season, many fans and experts want them to operate in tandem in the Indian jersey.

“I don’t know why they (selectors) broke that partnership which was doing well for India. I certainly believe that you have to bring ‘Kulcha’ back, Kuldeep and Yuzvendra, I think they have been brilliant for Team India. When they played together, they took wickets in the middle overs, whether it was T20s, ODIs or any format, they played together, they were very successful,” Harbhajan said at the launch event of Dream Set Go, also attended by former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman.

“It will be great to see them bowling in Australia, where the grounds are big and they both are quality bowlers. Their mentality is always to take wickets,” he added. Notably, this year’s T20 World Cup will take place in Australia where spinners aren’t likely to get a lot of assistance. Moreover, India have a quality spin-bowling all-rounder in the form of Ravindra Jadeja. Hence, it would be interesting to see how India’s final squad would look like.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday, to end a glittering 23-year career in the sport. A fun character, the 41-year-old made his international debut in 1998 and played 103 tests, 236 one-day internationals, and 28 Twenty20 internationals, taking 711 wickets across the three formats and winning the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2007 T20I World Cup.

Singh took 417 wickets in Test cricket – which ranks him 14th all-time and is the fourth most in Indian cricket history. He did so at an average of 32.46 and a 2.84 economy. Singh also took 269 more wickets in ODIs and added 25 in T20i matches. He last played for India in a T20I in 2016 but has continued to play in the Indian Premier League, turning out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in three matches in the 2021 season. He finishes his career as the country’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in test cricket, after Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and R Ashwin.

“There comes a time in your life when you must make some tough decisions and move ahead,” Harbhajan said in a video message posted on YouTube. “I have been meaning to make this announcement for the last few years, but I was waiting for the right moment to share it with all of you. Today, I am retiring from all formats of cricket.” From Bhajji to The Turbanator, our very own Harbhajan Singh was a world-class Off-spinner, who represented India in all three formats for a very long time (1998-2015). He has the Fourth-highest number of Test wickets by an off-spinner behind India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Rangana Herath.

Singh was captain of IPL team Mumbai Indians and Punjab for the 2012–13 Ranji Trophy season. Under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians won the 2011 Champions League Twenty20. Harbhajan broke into the Punjab Under-16s at the age of 15 years and 4 months in November of the 1995–96 season, and took 7/46 and 5/138 on debut against Haryana, setting up a nine-wicket win. He scored 56 in his next match against Delhi and then took 11/79 in his third match against Himachal Pradesh, orchestrating an innings win. He ended with 32 wickets at 15.15 and 96 runs at 48.00 in four matches.

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Harbhajan singh was one of the bestest spinner India ever had

He was rewarded with selection for North Zone Under-16s, a team that represents all of northern India for a one-day series, in which he took two wickets at 43.50 in four matches and scored 18 runs. At the end of the season, he was called into the national Under-19 team at the age of 15 years and 9 months for a youth One Day International against South Africa. He took 1/19 from seven overs in an Indian win. In 1996–97, Harbhajan was promoted to the Punjab Under-19s and he took 15 wickets at 20.20 in three matches, although he managed only two runs with the bat. This included match figures of 8/54 in an innings win over Jammu and Kashmir.

Harbhajan made his first-class cricket debut in late 1997 against Services, during the 1997–98 Ranji Trophy season. He took a total of 3/35 in an innings win but was dropped back to the Under-19s the following week. He then took 5/75 and 7/44 in two matches to earn a recall to the senior team. He then took a total of 7/123 in the next two matches for Punjab to earn selection for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Harbhajan’s season was interrupted when he represented India at the Under-19 World Cup in January 1998. He played in six matches, taking eight wickets at 24.75 with a best of 3/5 against Kenya.

Harbhajan played the full 2009 Indian Premier League season in South Africa, taking 12 wickets at 21.33 and an economy rate of 5.81 in 13 matches. He was one of the most economical bowlers in the competition and took 1/9 in four overs against Punjab to win the man of the match award. He ended the season with 4/17 against Delhi, but it was not enough to prevent a four-wicket defeat. During the 2010 IPL season, he finished as the Mumbai Indian’s leading wicket-taker with 17 victims at an average of 22.17 helping his team to reach the final. Kolkata Knight Riders were the last team in IPL he was a part of in 2021.