Mumbai Indians is one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, they have also been embroiled in various controversies over the years. Here are the top five controversies of Mumbai Indians in the IPL till date:
- Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth: In 2008, during the inaugural season of IPL, Mumbai Indians’ Harbhajan Singh was involved in a controversy when he allegedly slapped Kings XI Punjab’s Sreesanth after a match. The incident created a huge uproar in the cricketing fraternity, and Harbhajan was banned for the rest of the season.
- Kieron Pollard‘s eligibility: In 2010, Mumbai Indians signed Kieron Pollard, a promising West Indian all-rounder, as one of their overseas players. However, there was a controversy surrounding his eligibility to play in the IPL as he had not played for the West Indies in the preceding 12 months. Mumbai Indians argued that Pollard had retired from international cricket, and therefore, the rule did not apply to him. The issue was eventually resolved, and Pollard went on to become one of the team’s most valuable players.
- Lasith Malinga‘s no-ball controversy: In 2019, during a match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Lasith Malinga bowled a no-ball in the last over, which was not spotted by the on-field umpires. The no-ball would have given RCB an extra run and another ball to chase the target. However, Mumbai Indians went on to win the match, and the controversy created a lot of outrage among cricket fans.
- Rohit Sharma‘s selection controversy: Rohit Sharma, the current captain of Mumbai Indians, was involved in a controversy in 2012 when he was picked for the Indian Test team despite not having played a single first-class match in the preceding months. Many former cricketers criticized his selection, but Rohit went on to prove his worth by scoring a century on his debut.
- Allegations of conflict of interest: In 2019, Mumbai Indians’ owner Nita Ambani was accused of a conflict of interest as she was also a member of the Cricket Improvement Committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association. The conflict arose as the committee was responsible for selecting the Mumbai Indians head coach, and Ambani’s involvement in both the roles was seen as a conflict of interest. However, the issue was eventually resolved, and Mumbai Indians continued to dominate the IPL.
In conclusion, Mumbai Indians have been involved in various controversies over the years, but they have also been one of the most successful teams in the IPL. Despite the controversies, the team has managed to maintain a loyal fan base and continues to be one of the most popular teams in the tournament.
