MS Dhoni Virat Kohli Harbhajan Singh Sreesanth Slapgate in IPL. Image Credits: AFP/AP
Inaugurated in 2008, the Indian Premier League has delivered numerous cricketing moments to cherish. However, IPL’s journey, spanning almost 2 decades, has also been marred by dark controversies.
Some of those scandals were so exorbitant that they sparked serious debates regarding the prestige of India’s most prominent T20 league. At the same time, those incidents pithily tarnished IPL’s image and popularity.
Notably, controversies like the Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir clashes, one of the most famous player-to-player confrontations in the IPL, have become the most-watched moments of personal rivalry in the league.
The two Indian legends first clashed in 2013 during a match between RCB and KKR. Kohli and Gambhir exchanged heated words on the field, prompting other players and officials to intervene. A decade later, in 2023, the two players were again involved in another heated altercation, attracting heavy media attention.
Having said that, in this article, take a look at the top five biggest controversies in IPL history.
5 Biggest IPL Controversies
5. CSK complaint against RCB DJ: 2026
Five-time IPL winners, Chennai Super Kings, lodged a formal complaint with the BCCI regarding a song played during the high-octane RCB vs CSK clash on April 5 in the IPL 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The controversy surrounding the ‘dosa-idli’ song came to light nearly two weeks after the match. According to the news, the RCB DJ at the stadium played a song titled 'Dosa-Idli,' which CSK interpreted as a mockery of Tamil culture.
Also read: RCB vs CSK Controversy - What Actions Can BCCI Take Against RCB DJ?
Notably, the row dates back to 2025, when RCB's Jitesh Sharma appeared to mock CSK with the same song, which led to a backlash when the DJ at Chepauk Stadium played it after his dismissal. CSK management voiced their objections to such songs, arguing they are in poor taste and cross the line by targeting players.
4. Mitchell Starc- Kieron Pollard fight: IPL 2014
The West Indies all-rounder, Kieron Pollard, had a knack of getting under his opposition’s skin during his time as a player. Such was the case in IPL 2014, when Mumbai Indians locked horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru at their home ground, Wankhede.
Mitchell Starc and Kieron Pollard’s heated confrontation in IPL 2014 still remains one of the most talked-about moments of IPL.
A rapid bouncer from Starc whizzed past Pollard’s helmet in the 17th over of the game, followed by some advice from Starc on how to play an orthodox hook shot. Pollard declined the gesture, dismissively waving the fast bowler back to his mark with the back of his glove.
Next ball, when Kieron Pollard backed away from his stance to the leg-side, Mitchell Starc, who was already about to deliver the ball, well… delivered it, aggravating Pollard even more. Pollard hurled his bat in the air, which thudded into the ground only a few feet in front of him.
The umpires, the then RCB captain, Virat Kohli, intervened, cooling the fiery encounter in front of the raucous Mumbai crowd. Later, Kieron Pollard lost 75% of his match fee while Mitchell Starc was penalised 50% by match referee Andy Pycroft.
3. Shah Rukh Khan’s Wankhede Stadium Ban: IPL 2012
Over the course of 19 seasons, IPL franchise owners have found themselves in the spotlight for different reasons. However, one of the most talked-about moments remains the one involving Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
The incident occurred at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in 2012, following an IPL match between KKR and Mumbai Indians. After his team won the match, Shah Rukh Khan, also known as SRK, was seen having a heated argument with the security staff inside the stadium.
Also read: IPL Team Owners And Valuation
Video footage showed SRK angrily gesturing at one of the security personnel, while in the presence of his family and friends, including his children.
According to reports at the time, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials accused the actor of being under the influence of alcohol and attempting to enter the ground without permission.
Meanwhile, SRK vehemently denied being drunk, stating he was reacting to manhandling and "extreme provocation" toward his children by the security staff.
Eventually, the MCA imposed a strict five-year ban, barring Shah Rukh Khan from entering Wankhede Stadium in any capacity — even as the owner of an IPL franchise.
2. Harbhajan Singh - S Sreesanth Slapgate: IPL 2008
The first off-the-cuff incident of the IPL occurred in its very first season in 2008, when a senior member of the Indian Cricket Team, Harbhajan Singh, slapped youngster S. Sreesanth on live TV. It not only happened on live TV and in public, but was also immediately all over the media, sparking a huge debate over the new league.
Sreesanth was seen in public and in front of the police, while Harbhajan unapologetically continued his post-match tasks. However, he later apologised for the physical altercation, which led to a disciplinary hearing. Harbhajan was banned for the rest of the season, and the BCCI later banned him for five ODIs for slapping Sreesanth.
Fast forward to 2025, the video resurfaced when former IPL chairman Lalit Modi shared the clip from IPL 2008 during an interview with former Australian captain Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. Prompting Harbhajan to comment that Modi “must have been under the influence" when he decided to share the footage.
1. CSK, Rajasthan Royals' 2-year ban for spot-fixing: IPL 2016 and IPL 2017
Undoubtedly, one of the darkest chapters in IPL history emerged in 2013, when players including S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan were accused of spot-fixing. The scandal triggered widespread investigations that dug deeper and stirred new revelations.
After the 2013 fixing fallout and betting investigations, two major franchises, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, were handed a two-year ban for the seasons IPL 2016 and IPL 2017.
Also read: RCB's Suspicious Activity Caught On Camera, Umpire Involved
