What were the biggest IPL match-fixing scandals?


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The Indian Premier League, despite its global success and entertainment value, has not been without controversy—match-fixing scandals have at times rocked its credibility, leading to bans, arrests, and major reforms.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest IPL match-fixing and betting scandals that shook the league:

⚠️ 1. 2013 Spot-Fixing Scandal – The Most Explosive Crisis

📍 Teams Involved:

  • Rajasthan Royals

  • Indirect links to Chennai Super Kings

🔥 Key Players & Arrests:

  • S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan (all RR players) were arrested by Delhi Police.

  • Charged with accepting money from bookies to bowl no-balls at specific times.

🧠 How It Worked:

  • Players were allegedly instructed to signal compliance by gestures (e.g., towel tucks, warming-up motions) before delivering the fixed ball.

📉 Fallout:

  • All three players suspended; later banned by the BCCI.

  • Sreesanth was given a life ban (later reduced and overturned in 2019 by the Supreme Court).

  • Team officials and bookies were also arrested in sting operations.

🏢 2. Gurunath Meiyappan & CSK (2013) – The Ownership Scandal

🎭 Who:

  • Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official with CSK and son-in-law of then BCCI chief N. Srinivasan.

🎰 Allegations:

  • Accused of being involved in illegal betting and leaking team information.

  • Bookies claimed he placed huge bets using insider knowledge.

🏛️ Fallout:

  • Arrested and later banned.

  • Chennai Super Kings faced immense scrutiny over conflict of interest, as Srinivasan was both BCCI head and owner via India Cements.

  • CSK’s image took a massive hit, even though no match-fixing was proven.

🔨 3. Lodha Committee & Two-Year Suspension (2015)

🔍 What Happened:

  • Following the 2013 scandal, the Supreme Court appointed the Lodha Committee to investigate.

📜 Key Verdict:

  • Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were both suspended for two IPL seasons (2016 & 2017).

  • Owners were found guilty of “bringing the game into disrepute.”

⚖️ Landmark Decision:

  • Introduced structural reforms in BCCI, aimed at separating team ownership from cricket governance.

🕵️ 4. Tainted Bookies & Undercover Ops

  • Over the years, several low-profile arrests have occurred involving IPL-level bookies and local cricketers.

  • In 2012, a sting by India TV exposed players agreeing to fix overs in return for money—BCCI banned five domestic players.

🧨 5. Other Noteworthy Incidents (Rumored or Investigated)

  • Dawood Ibrahim and underworld connections have often been rumored, though never proven conclusively.

  • Several IPL betting rackets busted by Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad police during the 2010s.

  • Players have been warned or fined for interactions with suspicious individuals.

💡 Impact on IPL & Indian Cricket

🧯 Aftermath 💪 Reform
IPL’s credibility took a hit Stronger anti-corruption protocols introduced
CSK & RR missed two seasons Led to emergence of temporary teams (Rising Pune, Gujarat Lions)
Fans questioned league fairness BCCI created ACSU (Anti-Corruption & Security Unit)
Legal battles & image damage Ownership regulations tightened

📌 Summary

Year Scandal Key Figures Result
2013 Spot-fixing in RR Sreesanth, Chandila, Chavan Arrests, bans
2013 CSK betting link Gurunath Meiyappan Arrest, CSK suspended
2015 Lodha Committee verdict RR & CSK owners 2-year team suspensions
2012–Present Bookies/stings Multiple domestic players Bans, ACSU interventions

🧠 Final Take:

While these scandals were major blows to the IPL's image, they also triggered necessary reforms that made the league more secure, accountable, and transparent. The zero-tolerance approach post-2015 has helped restore faith among fans.

Want a timeline graphic or an explainer on how ACSU works behind the scenes to prevent fixing today?