Indian Premier League is the most loved T20 series worldwide where they invited national and international players to play in the series. It was started in 2008 with 8 teams with different franchises which were later sold in auctions held every year by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
However, the league has had its own share of controversies – none bigger than the spot-fixing scandal the rocked the IPL back on 2013. CSK and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were impacted with this revelation.
About Lodha Committee about Why CSK Was Banned
The Supreme Court of India appointed the Lodha Committee on 23 January 2015 to evaluate and suggest actionable steps to enhance the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Additionally, the committee was tasked with determining appropriate sanctions for Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra in the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal, as well as examining the role of Sundar Raman. The Lodha Committee submitted its report on 14 July 2015.
In summary, the Lodha Committee proposed several key recommendations:
- Establishing a retirement age of 70 years for administrators.
- Removing any administrator with criminal charges, unsound mind, insolvency, or holding positions in other athletic associations.
- Limiting the tenure of office bearers to two consecutive terms.
- Implementing a “one vote per state” policy for transparency in BCCI’s operations.
- Restricting the tenure of BCCI President to two years.
- Creating an independent governing body for the IPL.
- Requiring BCCI officials to disclose their assets to the governing board to prevent involvement in betting activities.
Read More: Who Owns Ipl Team Chennai Super Kings
About CSK
Well, one of the most popular and fourth most expensive team sold for $91 million in IPL is Chennai Super Kings (CSK) which gets into its shape under the captaincy of the most loved and expensive Indian player of all time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni who bought by team owners “India Cements” for $1.5 million at 2008 auction. In the IPL, Dhoni has led the Super Kings to win four out of nine finals, making him one of the most successful captains.
Chennai Super Kings emerged champions when they claimed the IPL 2023 trophy. In the thrilling final held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on May 29, MS Dhoni’s CSK defeated Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in a last-ball thriller, following a revised target due to rain interruptions. With this win, CSK joined Mumbai Indians as the two sides to have lifted the trophy 5 times.
Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians (MI) to victory in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, while Chennai Super Kings (CSK), under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, claimed the trophy in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Amidst all this, the CSK ban year was from 2016 to 2017.
Why CSK Was Banned For 2 Years
- The RM Lodha Committee was established by the Supreme Court of India to investigate the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal.
- India Cements is the parent company of CSK – one of the most successful and followed franchises in the IPL.
- The practice of spot-fixing involves manipulating a specific part of a match in order to achieve a predetermined outcome.
- Betting refers to placing bets on the outcome of a game and is illegal in India.
- In 2015, CSK was handed a suspension for two years owing to their involvement in spot-fixing and betting.
- As a fan favorite and two-time winner, CSK’s suspension was a significant event in the history of the IPL.
- CSK made a comeback in 2018 and went on to clinch the title. This sparked immense joy and euphoria to the fanbase.
Cricket is a sport that fans enjoy playing as well as watching, which emphasises the need to uphold the game’s fairness and integrity. The suspension of CSK serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to take action to stop betting and spot-fixing in order to maintain the integrity of sports.
Suggested Read: 10 Highest Partnership in IPL History
The Role of Betting in Cricket’s Dark Side
Betting in cricket has always been cricket’s dark underbelly and it has often intertwined with corruption and match-fixing scandals that tarnish the integrity of the sport. The allure of large sums of money drives individuals, including players, officials, and bookmakers, to enter agreements and take part in illegal betting practices, manipulating the outcomes of matches for personal gain.
Betting that could determine the result of the match has always been illicit since it compromises the fairness of the game and also undermines the trust of fans and stakeholders. The influence of betting extends beyond the field and it has always been in the cricketing world often hurting the sport’s reputation. The different governing bodies have made efforts to combat this dark side of cricket and these include strict regulations, surveillance mechanisms, and education campaigns in a bid to protect the sport’s integrity and ensure fair play.
N Srinivasan’s Dual Role Controversy
Former BCCI President N. Srinivasan was under the scanner for his dual role as the head of the national cricketing body as well as the owner of an IPL team – the Chennai Super Kings. His role was also questioned when his son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was found prima facie guilty of betting in IPL games involving the Chennai Super Kings.
Srinivasan defended himself, arguing that he could not be held accountable for Meiyappan’s actions, and he said that he should not be subject to “vicarious criminal liability” in this matter.
The Aftermath and CSK’s Response
The Supreme Court of India imposed a ban on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after it was part of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee. This decision was passed after the committee uncovered evidence of betting involving CSK team official Gurunath Meiyappan.
During the course of this investigation, Meiyappan was summoned by the Mumbai Police for questioning regarding the betting activities. He was then arrested and charged with betting on IPL matches – these actions were against the rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for team officials.
Meiyappan’s arrest and the subsequent charges brought CSK under the scanner. It should be mentioned here that CSK continues to be one of the most successful and beloved teams in the IPL. These allegations of betting and spot-fixing and the subsequent ban cast a shadow over both the team and the tournament.
The ban had a significant impact on CSK. The team was forced to navigate legal challenges and implement measures to mitigate damage to its reputation and brand value.
Further Read: Highest Individual Score in IPL
Legal Challenges and Appeals Made by CSK
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had to encounter several legal hurdles and pursued appeals in an effort to reverse the ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India. The franchise actively sought relief from the court and it presented its own arguments and was looking to contest the ban.
CSK was focusing on highlighting any procedural irregularities or perceived unfairness in the ban decision.
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Frequently Asked About Why CSK Banned in IPL
CSK was handed a suspension for two years due to their involvement in spot fixing. The side was banned from IPL in 2016 and 2017 and made a comeback to the league in 2018.
As things stand right now, the BCCI has employed strict anti-corruption rules in the IPL and hence, it will be difficult for players or officials to be involved in any form of match fixing.
Teams were not banned in the IPL. However, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended from IPL for 2 years owing to their involvement in spot fixing.
CSK was suspended for two years from the IPL starting July 2015 due to the involvement of its owners in the 2013 IPL betting case. They made a comeback and won the title in 2018.
CSK was banned from the IPL owing to allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting, primarily involving Gurunath Meiyappan.
After the ban, CSK put into place a series of measures to control the damage and restore its reputation. The team recognized the significance of rebuilding trust with fans and sponsors and hence, they prioritized efforts in image recovery and public relations.
CSK made sure that they made transparency and accountability key focal points for them and ensured they adhered to all the highest ethical standards. The franchise aimed to regain the trust and confidence of its stakeholders.
Chennai Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, made a triumphant return to the IPL on April 7, 2018, after serving their two-year ban. In a stunning comeback, they beat arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in the season opener. They were called the ‘Daddies Army’ due to their higher average age, CSK beat all expectations and clinched their third IPL title as they beat the SunRisers Hyderabad in the final.
Under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, CSK placed a lot of emphasis on team strategy and player acquisitions to bolster its squad. It opted for a lot of experience and this paid dividends as they went on to clinch the title.
The Chennai Super Kings started their comeback with a thrilling one-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in their first match after a two-year absence. They ended the league stage in second place and secured a spot in the playoffs. Chennai then beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first qualifier to advance to the final where they beat SRH once again to beat their third IPL title.
