IPL 2021: Top 5 controversial moments of the league stage

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest T20 league in the world. It isn’t just a tournament as it is treated like a festival among cricket fans across the globe. People wait for its commencement every year.

However, pretty much everything in this world is perfect. Despite all the frenzy and craze, the IPL too has its issues over the years. One of them being its controversies.

Over the years, owing to the stakes and standards of the league, there have been several heated and shocking moments. Irrespective of them being right or wrong, these controversies have managed to grab the headlines. So what are the controversies we have seen in this season so far?

In the article, let’s take a look at Top 5 controversial moments of IPL 2021 league stage

1) Umpiring errors during the PBKS vs RR game

One of the best matches of this tournament has undoubtedly been the game between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR). What seemed to be a straightforward game, turned out to be an absolute thriller. However, there were a few controversial moments which clouded the game.

PBKS were cruising towards a victory and needed just the 8 runs from 12 deliveries. Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran were well set and looked all set to take their side home. However, Mustafizur Rahman, who was bowling the second last over got away with two no-balls.

The seamer was bowling quite wide on the crease and it seemed as if his foot was touching the return crease on both occasions. That’s not it as Kartik Tyagi bowled a wide delivery to Deepak Hooda in the last over and got away with it as the umpire felt it wasn’t a wide.

Although Hooda did shuffle across the crease, the ball was still way far from his reach as it clearly went beyond the tramline.

2) No-ball controversy during the CSK vs DC game:

This occurred during the game between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Delhi Capitals (DC). As things were getting more tensed for both the sides, the umpire made a silly error which couldn’t be neglected.

In the final over of the second innings where DC needed 6 from the last over, CSK’s Dwayne Bravo bowled wide outside the off-stump of the West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer. It was so wide that it failed to even land on the pitch. In an ideal scenario this should have been a no-ball.

However, the umpire Anil Chaudhry after giving a no-ball suddenly changed his decision and gave it a wide. This didn’t sit well with several cricket pundits. Even the legendary Sunil Gavaskar went on to criticise the umpire for his decision.

3) Umpire giving not out despite clear spike on ultra-edge

Umpires can make an error as at the end of the day, they are just human beings. However, what about the third umpire? With all the technology in his hand, he ought to make the right call. However, this wasn’t the case in the IPL game between PBKS and RCB.

The RCB opener Devdutt Paddikal was given not out only for the PBKS skipper KL Rahul to go for a review. A clear spike was shown on the ultra edge during the review and despite that, the third umpire wasn’t convinced. He decided to give it not out.

This angered one and all. Even KL Rahul was seen questioning and arguing with the umpire Ananthapadmanabhan. Several cricket experts openly called out the third umpire for making such a big blunder.

4) Ashwin vs Morgan

Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the most loved Indian cricketers. However, several overseas cricketers have had their issues with Ashwin after his mankading controversy with Jos Buttler in 2019. However, his recent duel with Eoin Morgan resulted in another major controversy.

This happened during the game between DC and KKR. While batting in the death overs, the offie decided to take the extra run after a throw from Rahul Tripathi deflected off his skipper Rishabh Pant’s bat at the non-striker’s end.

This didn’t sit well with a few people from KKR as their skipper Morgan himself got into a verbal duel with Ashwin. Several former cricketers including Shane Warne criticized Ashwin for going against the “Spirit of the Game”. The spinner later defended himself on Twitter and mentioned that he did nothing wrong.

5) David Warner being removed from captaincy

David Warner is arguably the greatest player to have played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL. Not many cricketers have been as impactful as him for a single franchise. However, he found himself in a few issues this time around.

The then SRH skipper said that it was a “harsh call” by the selectors to drop Manish Pandey after their game against DC. He thus, publicly called out his team’s selectors and created a controversy. Prior to that, several cricket pundits were questioning him for not picking Kane Williamson in SRH’s playing XI.

The SRH management finally decided to sack Warner from the role of captaincy. There were various speculations that this was done due to the fact of him calling out his selectors in front of the entire world. An important point to support this claim is the fact that he was sacked merely a few days after making that statement about the selectors.