Photo Source: Twitter
Cricket is known as a gentleman’s game, and umpires and referees are in charge of ensuring that the game is played according to the rules while still upholding the spirit of the game. However, there have been reports of players losing their cool and engaging in unacceptable behaviour on the cricket ground.
This has caused match officials to take notice, and when proven guilty, some players have been fined. Meanwhile, in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most popular franchise event, players have been embroiled in heated disputes and punished.
Here are five examples of IPL cricketers who were punished for on-field squabbles:
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5. Nitish Rana vs Hrithik Shokeen (MI vs KKR, IPL 2023)
Nitish Rana vs Hrithik Shokeen (MI vs KKR, IPL 2023) Photo Source: Twitter
Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders met in the 22nd match of the cash-rich league’s 2023 season. Mumbai won the toss and elected to bat first. Hrithik Shokeen took the wicket of KKR captain Nitish Rana, who scored five runs off ten deliveries, in the ninth over’s first ball, giving his team a third wicket.
While Rana was coming off the pitch, he and Shokeen got into a heated fight that required the intervention of Piyush Chawla and Suryakumar Yadav to defuse. For breaking the IPL Code of Conduct, Nitish was fined 25% of his match money, while Hrithik was fined 10% of his match cost.
Despite Kolkata’s 185-run total, Mumbai easily chased it down in 17.4 overs owing to a scorching century by Venkatesh Iyer (104 runs off 51 balls). Ishan Kishan (58 runs off 25 balls) was the top scorer for the five-time IPL champions.
4. Kieron Pollard vs Mitchell Starc (MI vs RCB, IPL 2014)
Kieron Pollard vs Mitchell Starc (MI vs RCB, IPL 2014) Photo Source: Twitter
At the Wankhede Stadium, the Mumbai Indians met Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 27th match of the IPL 2014. After winning the toss, the Royal Challengers Bangalore choose to bowl first. During the 17th over of Mumbai’s innings, Mitchell Starc and Kieron Pollard got into a fight on the pitch.
In the fourth ball of the 17th over, Starc bowled a bouncer to Pollard, who was beaten by pace as he attempted to hook. Following the delivery, the pacer spoke briefly with the former West Indies hitter, who did not answer and waved him off. As Starc charged in to bowl the following ball, Pollard stepped away and moved to the leg side. However, the left-arm pacer did not abort and instead shot the ball at Pollard.
It infuriated the batsman, who swung his bat angrily at the bowler. Pollard’s bat escaped his grasp and dropped beside him. Then both Starc and Pollard were seen fighting verbally. Both players violated the IPL’s Code of Conduct at Level 2, and match referee Andy Pycroft penalised Pollard 75% and Starc 50% of their match salaries.
In terms of the game, Mumbai scored 187 runs, with Rohit Sharma making a magnificent half-century (59* runs off 35 balls). The RCB could only produce 168 runs in 20 overs in response. Rohit was selected Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
3. Ambati Rayudu vs Harshal Patel (RCB vs MI, IPL 2012)
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Ambati Rayudu-Harshal Patel (RCB vs MI, 2012) Photo Source: Twitter
Royal Challengers Bangalore faced Mumbai Indians in the 62nd match of the IPL 2012 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Bangalore batted first and scored 171 runs in 20 overs, led by a brilliant knock of 64 off 30 deliveries from Mayank Agarwal.
Mumbai struggled during the chase, losing five wickets for 51 runs. Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard combined for an undefeated 122-run standoff 65 balls to send MI across the line just as things looked bleak for Harbhajan Singh and company.
While celebrating a thrilling victory, Rayudu made some derogatory remarks about Harshal Patel, enraging the right-arm pacer, who ran towards Rayudu before being stopped by Virat Kohli. Ambati was fined 100% of his match money for using profane and abusive language, while Harshal was admonished and fined 25% of his match earnings.
2. Munaf Patel vs Nitin Saini (MI vs PBKS, IPL 2012)
Munaf Patel-Nitin Saini (MI vs PBKS, 2012) Photo Source: Twitter
At Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians faced Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the 28th match of the IPL 2012. Mumbai batted first and scored 163 runs, paced by James Franklin’s half-century (79 runs off 51 deliveries).
For Punjab, Nitin Saini and Mandeep Singh batted first. Nitin hammered two fours against Munaf Patel in the third over of the innings. At the end of the over, Munaf chatted with the wicketkeeper-batter, and the right-arm bowler was spotted indulging in some verbal volleys.
After witnessing the altercation, the on-field umpires and then-MI captain Harbhajan Singh were forced to interfere. Munaf was penalised 50% of his match fee by referee Raju Mukherjee for making inappropriate gestures during the game. Shaun Marsh (68* runs off 40 deliveries) struck a brilliant half-century to help Punjab defeat Mumbai by six wickets.
1. Harbhajan Singh vs S Sreesanth (KXIP vs MI, IPL 2008)
Harbhajan Singh-S Sreesanth (KXIP vs MI, 2008) Photo Source: Twitter
In the eleventh match of the lucrative T20 tournament’s maiden season, Kings XI Punjab (Punjab Kings) faced Mumbai Indians. Mumbai won the toss and chose to bat with Yuvraj Singh and his team. Kumar Sangakarra delivered, blasting 94 runs off 56 deliveries to help Punjab reach 182 runs in 20 overs.
Following Sangakarra’s magnificent innings, the Punjab bowlers demonstrated their class by chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. As a result, Mumbai could only muster 116 runs in 20 overs. However, as the players exchanged pleasantries after the game, Harbhajan Singh slapped S Sreesanth.
After the incident, then-IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi stated, “The match referee went through the video footage and found the incident was totally unprovoked.” Soon after the game, Harbhajan was shaking hands with all Kings XI players, with Sreesanth coming in third. Instead of shaking hands, Harbhajan slapped him and continued.”
Harbhajan Singh was fined 100% of his match money and forbidden from participating in the remainder of the IPL 2008 season. Because he witnessed the incident but did not take prompt action, Lalchand Rajput, the then-coach of the Mumbai Indians, was deducted 50% of his match money.
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