When we talk about cricket lovers all around the globe, IPL is a term that is no stranger to anyone. Being on the pitch for more than 16 years now, this cricketing event is usually considered a mid-year Indian festival. The craze of cricket in India is no-nonsense. Here people tend to place the sport above a lot of other things, and the introduction of IPL marked as a justifying factor for the same.
The craze for IPL is such that the fans have always wanted more matches and more franchises to participate in the marquee tournament. Heeding the fans’ demand, the BCCI has added two new franchises to the IPL 2022 season, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow SuperGiants, taking the total to 10 teams. Both these teams are performing exceedingly well with Gujarat Titans winning the 2022 IPL title and then reaching the finals of the 2023 IPL season. Though the IPL 2024 season will feature 74 matches as in the 2023 IPL, BCCI is planning to increase the number to 84 or 94 matches from the IPL 2025 season. That’s how high the demand is!
With such a high demand no wonder rumors and suspicions grew around some IPL matches throughout its history. Fixing is a term closely associated with sports, and the scenes with IPL are no different. There are many occasions when pundits claimed the tournament to be occasionally or even entirely scripted. But are IPL matches fixed? If yes, which is the fixing team in IPL? Is there one or many?
Let’s read the following write-up and find out if an IPL match can really be fixed.
Table of Contents
Is IPL Fixed or Scripted? 5 Myths Busters That Deserve Your Attention
If you’re a sports lover, you need to admit that the best way of drawing conclusions about a match is by analyzing various aspects of it. We’ll follow the same trend and try to clear all sorts of confusion around the query, “Are IPL matches fixed?”
Let’s start by looking at some Indian Premier League-related myth busters and check how they eliminate the possibilities of the league being scripted. If you’ve been following the league like a true fan, we don’t think relating to the following situations will be a tricky cake to bake.
Myth Buster 1: Mayank Agarwal’s and Rahul’s Brilliant Efforts at the Boundaries
You’ve heard people saying, “IPL is scripted,” right? Then what about the greatest boundary save in the history of cricket? We’re talking about Mayank Agarwal, who made a spectacular effort to save his team Kings XI Punjab against the mighty Mumbai Indians. Had it been all fake right from the word go, no one would have risked injury to ensure their team’s victory.
Another example is K L Rahul, captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, too sustained a career-threatening injury as he tore a tendon in his right thigh while trying to save runs for his team against RCB in IPL 2023. He had to undergo surgery and was not able to play for more than 6 months.
Think once, if you had already known the fate of the match, would you ever risk your career and life for no reason?
Myth Buster 2: Chris Lynn’s Spectacular Catch and Kane’s Dare Devil Effort to Save Boundary
Shifting our attention from an Indian star to an international athlete, Australia’s Chris Lynn. Back in IPL 2014, while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, he took a next-level catch dismissing Royal Challenger Bangalore’s popular face AB De Villiers. The catch was so stunning that even today, cricket experts don’t miss an opportunity to praise that event.
There are many such instances, for example, in the recently concluded 2023 IPL season, Kane Williamson (Captain of New Zealand cricket team) while trying to save a boundary against Chennai Super Kings ruptured his knee and was sidelined for the entire tournament. He had to go back home and was seen on crutches at the airport while flying back.
If IPL is fixed, what was that effort for?
Myth Buster 3: Teams Spending Huge Amount on a Single Player
What if we tell you from today onwards that the internet on your smartphone is free for your lifetime? Will you consider paying your service providers every month? Sounds stupid, right? So why do you think Mumbai spent $1 million on Glenn Maxwell (IPL 2013) and Kings XI did the same for the Universe Boss Chris Gayle?
Similarly, in the IPL 2023 season, Sam Curran from England became the highest-paid player in the history of IPL as he was bought for a whopping $2.26 million by Punjab Kings. And Australian Cameron Green was bagged for $2.14 million by Mumbai Indians. Why pay such astronomical amounts if matches are fixed?
Let’s give you the most straightforward answer to that. Franchises spend huge money on big guns to ensure the team is benefitted. Just like Chris Gayle single-handedly took Punjab to the top of the table, scoring 517 runs with a breathtaking strike rate of around 197.06 and Sam Curran exhibited his all-round talent in crucial matches.
There is no wonder if you see players being offered even better prices for the IPL 2024 season as the demand is ever-increasing and the sponsors are shelling out more and more money for every new edition.
Myth Buster 4: The Existence of Online Betting
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There are a number of instances where bettors end up winning impressive sums post betting on sides that appear to hold less probability of winning the game. Had it been possible if the matches were scripted?
For example, who would have thought that the newcomer Gujarat Titans would win the 2022 IPL title on debut and reach finals in the 2023 IPL season?
The answer is again no one.
Myth Buster 5: Injuries
If efforts aren’t enough to justify the player’s inbuilt spirit for the game, you need to know about the injuries. Needless to say, every season, there are plenty, but for an impressive example, just remember IPL 2020, when Ravichandran Ashwin and Mitchell Marsh encountered severe injuries that compelled them to leave the field. While the India spinner hurt his shoulder, the Australian all-rounder on the flip end underwent a season-ending ankle injury. Do you think that was a part of the script as well?
So is IPL fixed? Absolutely not, as multiple facts prove the authenticity.
Proof That IPL Is Fixed: Is It Reliable?
Having busted a few myths already, let’s now investigate a few situations that have actually played a critical role in harvesting negative thoughts around the IPL.
Bookies Admitting the Fixing Scenes Around IPL
Dated back in 2013, India Today performed a sting operation that hinted a bit at the fixing scene. As per the reports, two Delhi-based bookies confessed the existence of master bookies who, according to them, are already aware of the game’s outcome. They said that every match of every ball is already fixed.
Not just that, during an investigation conducted by ICC’s anti-corruption team, they came across a bookie who revealed being a part of IPL’s fixing structure. He disclosed how the player outfits helped transmit the scripted signals.
These might sound a bit scary, but before you make up your mind, we don’t think drawing conclusions based on what a couple of people have said would be a good choice. You never know what the state of the interview actually was. Preferably consider thousands of bettors who bet every day just because they know they’ve got fair chances of winning. As already mentioned, a scripted tournament would have resulted in everyone winning, but that’s not how betting works. It’s instead a calculative approach.
In addition to this, IPL is governed by BCCI, which follows some of the stringent policies when it comes to fixing. For example, S Sreesanth an Indian pacer who was also a member of the 2011 ODI World Cup winning team was handed a lifetime ban for match-fixing. After such events, do you think any player or franchise would indulge in a malicious act?
The answer is again no.
Mumbai Indians’ Time Travelling Tweet
It was 11th October 2020 when a tweet from the official Mumbai Indians hit the cricketing sphere with a storm. The tweet said, “Pattinson is sharing the new ball with Boult!” Surprisingly the tweet was produced even before the match started. That very thing made a number of fans shift to a sense of confusion and start asking themselves, “Are IPL matches fixed?”
Although a bit controversial, we don’t think the tweet had anything to do with the fixing scene. The odd phrase that was posted by mistake could have meant anything.
Frequent Narrow Finishes
While for many close encounters in cricket matches are worthy experiences, there are a number of others who tend to smell something fishy in it. In recent times most of the IPL matches have ended post a close encounter. There are several instances where you’ll find a team winning or losing a margin of 1 run. Honestly, that’s a bit dubious but not reliable enough to declare the Indian Premier League fixed.
If you’ve been planning to bet on your favorite team but have drawn the steps back because of all the existing confusion wondering is IPL scripted, you must understand IPL is fixed proofs like these at least indicate that, but in reality, these elements are invalid and based on mere fragile assumptions. So better start planning your bets on Parimatch and wait for the perfect opportunity to win.
Should the IPL Be Banned If It Is Fixing Matches?
No doubt, illegal activities should never be entertained and when it is about sports, tolerating even for a second isn’t worth it. But the scene around bans should only creep in where there is a valid reason. Thankfully, IPL is well off that radar.
FAQ
Is IPL fixed or not?
No, IPL is not fixed or scripted. The only situation when you can say IPL is fixed is when you can justify the efforts players tend to put in during every match. It is rather funny to say, but we often end up calling the entire tournament scripted as soon as our favorite team sits in the losing corner. We know that’s a bit painful, but cursing the league, on the whole, isn’t ethical.
Is there any proof that IPL is fixed?
There are no proven facts that demonstrate that the IPL is fixed. For many, the existing IPL is fixed proof is trustworthy, but in reality, it’s not.
We need to understand the fact that everything is part of the game. A winning team might end up on the losing lot the very next day, but that doesn’t mean the team is involved in fixing. Appreciating the efforts that every player brings match after match is crucial. That’s how we can ensure holding on to the evergreen spirit of the game.
Conclusion
So, have you ever found your way asking, “Is today IPL match fixed?” while watching one? If yes, we don’t think this thought will haunt you anymore.
The queries such as “Is IPL fixed?”, “Which is the fixing team in IPL?” “Is IPL scripted?” and many are never-ending. But if you’ve dedicated your time to reading this article, you’re no longer clouded with these inquiries. We know the love of cricketing fans towards the IPL is loyal, and thankfully, the IPL is loyal to its audiences too. Taking the authenticity of the league away just because of irrelevant moments isn’t a fruitful option.
Now that you know IPL isn’t scripted, it is the perfect time to cheer your team to victory while we at Parimatch also ensure your winnings. Take part in the online IPL betting on Parimatch and stand a chance to win big. Loaded with extra benefits and tips to help our users, making this season of IPL more thrilling is just a few clicks away.
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