Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India

by Karan — October 7, 2025 in Players / Guides

Cricket is not just a sport in India — it’s a religion!

Millions of fans worship their cricket heroes. Kids dream of wearing the blue jersey and playing for India.

But sometimes, fame and big money can lead players into trouble. They make wrong choices that destroy their careers.

Some cricketers got involved in match-fixing. Some took money from bookies. Others broke important rules.

Cricketers Who Got Banned In India

In this detailed guide on the Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India, we’ll explore why these bans happened and what we can learn from them.

These stories are sad but important. They teach us that no matter how talented you are, honesty matters most in cricket.

Let’s understand what went wrong and how cricket is trying to stay clean.

Why Players Get Banned in Cricket?

Before we talk about specific players, let’s understand why cricketers get banned.

Here are the main reasons:

🎯 Match-Fixing: This means deciding the result of a match before playing. Players take money from bookies and lose on purpose.
🎯 Spot-Fixing: This is fixing small parts of a match — like bowling a no-ball at a specific time or scoring slowly on purpose.
🎯 Failing to Report Bookie Approach: If a bookie contacts a player and the player doesn’t tell officials, it’s a crime! Even if the player doesn’t accept money.
🎯 Breaking Code of Conduct: This includes bad behavior on the field, abusing umpires, or saying the wrong things in public.
🎯 Using Banned Substances: Taking drugs or medicines that are not allowed in cricket. This is called doping.

Important to Know: Most banned Indian cricketers were involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing scandals.

These are very serious crimes in cricket because they destroy the trust of millions of fans.

If you are a cricketer and don’t want to get banned in cricket, then you must read this guide on Cricket Contracts and Legal Clauses and keep updated with the latest law clauses, and at the same time, always follow these 15 rules of cricket, so you can not make any mistakes.

Types of Bans in Indian Cricket

Not all bans are the same! Let me explain the three main types:

1. Match Ban (Short Punishment)

A player is banned for just a few matches.

Duration: Usually 1-5 matches
Reason: Small mistakes like slow over-rate or minor misbehavior
Example: Virat Kohli got a one-match ban in 2023 for a slow over-rate during the IPL

2. Suspension (Medium Punishment)

A player cannot play cricket for several months or years.

Duration: A Few months to a few years
Reason: Serious misbehavior or rule breaking
Example: Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were suspended in 2019 for controversial comments on TV

3. Life Ban (Harshest Punishment)

A player is banned forever from all cricket activities.

Duration: Lifetime (sometimes reduced on appeal)
Reason: Match-fixing, spot-fixing, or very serious violations
Example: Mohammad Azharuddin got a life ban in 2000 (later lifted in 2012)

Key Point: Life bans are rare, but send a strong message — cricket will not tolerate corruption!

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Top 10 Banned Indian Cricketers

Here’s a quick look at the Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India:

Player Name	Year Banned	Ban Duration	Reason for Ban
Mohammad Azharuddin	2000	Life (lifted in 2012)	Match-fixing allegations
Sreesanth	2013	Life (reduced to 7 years)	IPL spot-fixing scandal
Ajay Sharma	2000	Life	Match-fixing allegations
Manoj Prabhakar	2000	5 years	Match-fixing allegations
Amit Singh	2013	5 years	IPL spot-fixing involvement
Siddharth Trivedi	2013	1 year	Failure to report the bookie’s approach
TP Sudhindra	2012	Life	Spot-fixing in domestic T20
Ankeet Chavan	2013	Life	IPL spot-fixing scandal
Mohnish Mishra	2012	1 year	Caught in a sting operation
Shalabh Srivastava	2012	5 years	Spot-fixing allegations

Now let’s understand each player’s story in detail…

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The 10 Indian Cricketers Who Got Banned – Explained One by One

1. Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin was one of India’s finest captains. He was famous for his beautiful wristy shots.

What Happened: In 2000, he was banned for life by BCCI for alleged match-fixing. A report said he fixed three ODI matches.

Azharuddin denied everything. He said he never fixed any match. But BCCI didn’t believe him.

The Aftermath: His glorious career ended in shame. He fought in court for 12 years.

Finally, in 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court lifted his ban. But by then, his playing days were over.

Lesson: Even the greatest captains can lose everything if they get involved in corruption — whether guilty or not.

2. Sreesanth

Sreesanth was a fiery fast bowler who helped India win the 2007 T20 World Cup. He was known for his aggressive celebrations.

What Happened: In 2013, during IPL, police arrested Sreesanth for spot-fixing. They said he agreed to bowl no-balls for money.

BCCI immediately banned him for life. His entire world collapsed overnight.

The Comeback Story: Sreesanth cried on TV. He claimed innocence. He fought in the courts for years.

In 2019, his ban was reduced to 7 years (ending in 2020). He tried to make a comeback but struggled.

Lesson: Even one wrong decision can destroy years of hard work. Sreesanth’s story is both sad and inspiring.

3. Ajay Sharma

Ajay Sharma was a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket. He scored over 10,000 first-class runs!

What Happened: In 2000, he received a life ban for match-fixing allegations. Despite his amazing domestic record, he played only 1 Test and 31 ODIs for India.

The match-fixing scandal destroyed any chance of a bigger international career.

Current Status: He never returned to cricket. His life ban remains.

Lesson: Talent alone is not enough. Character and honesty matter more.

4. Manoj Prabhakar

Manoj Prabhakar was a useful all-rounder who played for India in the 1990s. He could bat and bowl.

What Happened: Ironically, Prabhakar first helped expose match-fixing in Indian cricket. He did a TV sting operation!

But later, he himself was accused of fixing matches. In 2000, BCCI banned him for 5 years.

The Irony: The man who exposed corruption got caught in it himself!

Lesson: Sometimes people who point fingers are hiding their own mistakes.

5. Amit Singh

Amit Singh played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He was not a big star but a regular player.

What Happened: In 2013, during the IPL spot-fixing scandal, Amit Singh got a 5-year ban.

He was accused of being a middleman between bookies and other players. Even though he wasn’t fixing himself, helping bookies is also a crime.

Important Point: You don’t have to directly fix matches to get banned. Just helping bookies can ruin your career!

Lesson: Stay away from suspicious people, even if they offer easy money.

6. Siddharth Trivedi

Siddharth Trivedi was a medium-pace bowler for the Rajasthan Royals. He was a decent player.

What Happened: In 2013, he got a 1-year ban. His crime? He didn’t report when bookies approached him!

He didn’t take money. He didn’t fix anything. But he stayed quiet when he should have told officials.

Why This Matters: Cricket rules say you MUST report if anyone offers you money or talks about fixing. Silence is also a crime.

Lesson: Always tell cricket authorities if someone suspicious contacts you. Don’t try to handle it alone.

7. TP Sudhindra

TP Sudhindra was a domestic cricketer who played in the Karnataka state cricket.

What Happened: In 2012, he received a life ban for spot-fixing in a domestic T20 match.

This showed that corruption wasn’t just in IPL or international cricket. Even local matches had fixing!

Why It Shocked Everyone: People thought only big matches were fixed. But Sudhindra’s case proved that even small local games could be corrupt.

Lesson: Corruption can happen at any level. Young cricketers must be careful from the very beginning.

8. Ankeet Chavan

Ankeet Chavan was a left-arm spinner who played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

What Happened: He was caught in the same 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal as Sreesanth. He received a life ban.

Chavan admitted to taking money from bookies. His confession helped police understand how the fixing network worked.

The Cost: His entire cricket career ended. He was just starting to make a name in IPL.

Lesson: One bad choice, one wrong meeting — and everything you worked for disappears.

9. Mohnish Mishra

Mohnish Mishra was a domestic cricketer hoping to play in the IPL.

What Happened: In 2012, he was caught in a TV sting operation. Cameras recorded him discussing how to fix matches.

He wasn’t playing in IPL yet, but he was already planning corruption! BCCI gave him a 1-year ban.

Why This Case is Important: It showed that some players think about fixing even before they become famous!

Lesson: Ambition for quick money can destroy your career before it even starts.

10. Shalabh Srivastava

Shalabh Srivastava was a left-arm fast bowler who played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).

What Happened: In 2012, he got a 5-year ban for agreeing to spot-fix in IPL. A sting operation caught him.

Like others, he was tempted by the promise of easy money in T20 leagues.

The Reality: He thought he could make quick cash without getting caught. He was wrong.

Lesson: Bookies promise big money, but they destroy your dreams. Never trust them!

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Impact of These Bans on Indian Cricket

The bans of these cricketers deeply affected Indian cricket:

💔 Fans Lost Trust: Millions of fans felt betrayed. They wondered: “Is the match real or fake?”
⚠️ Players Became More Aware: Young cricketers learned about the dangers of corruption. They became more careful.
🛡️ Stronger Anti-Corruption Measures: BCCI and ICC created special Anti-Corruption Units (ACU) to monitor players.
📋 Stricter IPL Rules: IPL introduced tough background checks, player education, and monitoring systems.
📱 Use of Technology: Authorities started tracking phone calls, messages, and suspicious betting patterns.
💰 Better Pay for Players: To reduce temptation, cricket boards increased player salaries and match fees.

Key Point: These scandals hurt cricket badly, but they also made the system stronger and cleaner.

What Cricketers Can Learn from These Bans?

If you’re a young cricketer dreaming of playing professionally, listen carefully:

✅ Always Report Suspicious Approaches: If anyone talks to you about fixing, immediately tell your coach or BCCI officials.
✅ Never Take Money from Outsiders: Bookies will offer huge amounts. Don’t fall for it! That money will destroy your career.
✅ Focus on Your Career, Not Shortcuts: Building a cricket career takes years of hard work. Don’t waste it on quick money.
✅ Remember — Honesty Keeps Cricket Pure: Millions of fans trust you. Don’t break their hearts.
✅ Choose Good Friends: Stay away from people who talk about betting or fixing.
✅ Attend Anti-Corruption Workshops: BCCI organizes education programs. Take them seriously!
✅ Think Long-Term: A successful, honest career is better than short-term, illegal money.

What BCCI and ICC Do to Stop Corruption?

Cricket authorities are working hard to keep the game clean:

📚 Education Programs for Young Players: BCCI teaches cricketers about corruption dangers from the academy level.
📜 Strict Anti-Corruption Codes: Every player must sign agreements promising to report any suspicious approach.
👀 Player Behavior Monitoring: ACU officials watch players’ activities, especially during big tournaments.
⚖️ Life Bans for Serious Cases: To scare potential fixers, authorities give life bans for proven corruption.
🔍 Background Checks: Before joining teams, players go through detailed background verification.
📞 24/7 Reporting Hotlines: Players can anonymously report suspicious activities anytime.
💻 Technology and Data Analysis: Authorities use advanced software to detect unusual betting patterns.
🤝 International Cooperation: ICC works with police and betting regulators worldwide to catch fixers.

The Public Reaction and Media Coverage

When these bans happened, the whole country reacted:

😡 Anger and Disappointment: Fans felt cheated. Social media exploded with angry comments.
📺 24/7 News Coverage: TV channels showed debates and discussions for weeks.
😢 Sympathy for Some Players: Some fans believed certain players were innocent (like Sreesanth).
🙏 Hope for a Clean Game: Despite anger, fans wanted cricket to become corruption-free.
📱 Social Media’s Role: Twitter and Facebook helped expose corruption faster. Fans shared videos and evidence.
🎬 Documentaries and Movies: The fixing scandals inspired several films and documentaries about corruption in cricket.

Mixed Emotions: People were sad that talented players ruined their careers. But they were also happy that the BCCI took strict action.

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Conclusion – Lessons from the Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India

We’ve explored the sad stories of the Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India.

These players had talent, opportunity, and fans who loved them. But they made wrong choices.

Some were greedy. Some were weak. Some were caught in bad company.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Cricket is more than a sport — it’s a matter of national pride
✅ One wrong decision can destroy years of hard work
✅ Honesty and discipline matter more than talent
✅ Always report if bookies approach you
✅ BCCI is serious about keeping cricket clean

The stories of the Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India remind us that fame and money mean nothing without character.

Let’s hope future generations learn from these mistakes. Let’s hope Indian cricket stays clean forever.

To young cricketers: Play with your heart, work with dedication, and always choose honesty over quick money.

That’s how real champions are made! 🏏

For more detailed cricket stories, legal cases, and player updates, visit CricketBureau.com — your professional cricket news and analysis blog.

Final Thoughts:

Banned cricketers lost everything — fame, money, respect, and legacy.

Their names are remembered not for centuries or wickets, but for corruption.

This is the saddest part of their story.

But their mistakes teach us valuable lessons. They show us why integrity matters in sports.

Cricket will continue. New heroes will emerge. Hopefully, they’ll learn from the past and keep the game clean.

Remember: Temporary greed leads to permanent shame. Choose wisely! 🙏

Top 10 Cricketers Who Got Banned In India