IPL has seen a number of high-profile, controversial send-offs of its well-known players, ones that led to major debates. Memorable moments consist of Harbhajan Singh slapping down Sreesanth, MS Dhoni getting into a shouting match, and Virat Kohli yelling at the crowd....

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5 of the most controversial send-offs in IPL history

Virat Kohli vs. Gautam Gambhir (2013 & 2023)

• Incident: Kohli and Gambhir had heated exchanges on the field, showcasing the competitive spirit and tensions between players.
• Impact: These confrontations emphasized the fierce rivalries in the league.

MS Dhoni's Pitch Invasion (2019)

• Incident: Dhoni’s on-field tantrum punctuated the unwelcoming atmosphere, where managers and owners were expecting a star player to storm onto the pitch to accost the referees over a bad call in a match.
• Impact: His actions ignited national conversations about player empowerment and respect for officials.

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 Harbhajan Singh vs. Sreesanth (2008)

• Incident: After a match, Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth, leading to a significant suspension for Harbhajan.
• Impact: This incident highlighted the intense emotions in the IPL and raised questions about player conduct.

Kieron Pollard vs. Mitchell Starc (2014)

• Incident: During an IPL 2014 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, tensions escalated when Pollard backed away mid-delivery, but Starc still bowled the ball aggressively toward him, prompting Pollard to almost throw his bat in retaliation.
• Impact: This altercation, one of the most heated in IPL history, sparked major debates on sportsmanship and the limits of aggression in the game.

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Sourav Ganguly vs. Shane Warne (2008)

• Incident: During an IPL 2008 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Ganguly questioned a catch taken by Graeme Smith, prompting the umpire to refer it. With inconclusive replays, Ganguly was given the benefit of the doubt, leading to Warne openly criticizing him in the post-match press conference.

• Impact: This controversy ignited debates on the spirit of the game, with Ganguly and Warne exchanging heated words, showcasing their long-standing rivalry even in the IPL.

The IPL comes with glamour, edge-of-the-seat cricket, and multi-crore rupee deals. But amidst all the glamour, there have been dark incidents also that shook the cricketing community. Here are some of the most noted IPL scandals:

1. 2013 Spot-Fixing Scandal

This was among the darkest times of IPL history. Three Rajasthan Royals players, Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan, were arrested for spot-fixing. The image of the league left everyone shocked.

2. CSK and RR Banned (2015)

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two years when their promoters got involved in illegal gambling. It was a devastating blow, as CSK was one of the most successful teams in the IPL's history.

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3. Lalit Modi Controversy

Lalit Modi, the creator of IPL, was charged with irregularities and suspended by the BCCI in 2010. His abrupt departure from the league raised a number of questions regarding cricket administration corruption.

4. Suspension of Ravindra Jadeja (2010)

Jadeja, the superstar of today, was suspended for the 2010 season when he attempted to negotiate with another team while he was already contracted to Rajasthan Royals. It was an unusual instance of a player being punished for breach of contract.

5. Harbhajan Singh Slaps Sreesanth (2008)

In a shock during the inaugural season of IPL, Indian player Sreesanth was slapped by Harbhajan Singh following a match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians. It resulted in Harbhajan's suspension for the remainder of the season.

But despite all the scandals, the IPL is one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world. Even though scandals rocked the tournament, popularity of the tournament is growing year by year.

Which of the IPL controversy do you remember most?

Sreesanth got a notice from the KCA asking for an explanation for his statement. They want to know why he said that statement for the sanju samson exclusion. This happened after the former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth spoke against the KCA for how they treated Sanju Samson. KCA didn't allow Samson a proper opportunity to give his best and show his experience how important for the India's ODI team.

Sreesanth told Onmanorama we should all cheer for Sanju because he is the only one player who plays International for our State, Kerala. The KCA gets players from other States for Kerala team and that's not fair to our own players from here. Why do they act that way? It makes it hard for players who play cricket in Kerala to get a chance.

The BCCI started looking into why Samson wasn't playing in Domestic Cricket. Before this happened, there was a small disagreement between the KCA and Samson primarily concentrated about him not getting to play for the Kerala team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Samson had to play in these home games to show he's good at Cricket because he wasn't on India's team in the ICC Champions Trophy. 

THOUGHTS on the controversy that has erupted between KCA & Sreesanth over the treatment meted out to Sanju Samson? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aGvf0umwtZ

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) February 8, 2025

KCA Fires Back at Sreesanth

Sreesanth’s comment hinted that KCA had acted unfairly. Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Sailors franchise in the Kcl, he isn't allowed to make such bold statements about the KCA as per his contract. KCA said that why they supported him when no one else did because of his match-fixing past, yet he still made negative remarks against them.

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"When Sreesanth was in jail facing match-fixing allegations, KCA officials Backed him. While the court Dismissed the criminal charges, he has not been officially cleared in the match-fixing case. There’s no reason for him to show as a protector of other players," KCA stated this statement. The KCA board helped Sreesanth make a comeback when others didn’t.  "KCA’s supported Sreesanth got a chance to return to cricket, including playing in the Ranji Trophy. Other teams haven’t extended the same level of support to players with similar pasts, and that’s something to think about," the statement added by Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).