As the corruption in sports gets more rampant, the authorities that are accountable for the integrity of the game get more pressure to do their job properly. But it’s always wrong to blame the officials; it’s time for the players to take the responsibility of not bringing disgrace to the sports they represent and the values they have.
One of the major issues that have plagued cricket ever since its birth is betting and match-fixing. The extremely popular sport, especially in a huge market like India, continues to create a very good opportunity for the bookmakers to make huge profits. But it’s really sad on the part of the players that they choose to turn their back on the game and get into the hands of these bookmakers just for the sake of quick monetary gains.
It is quite a heartbreaking and discouraging situation when one looks back at the history of Indian cricket and sees the number of young cricketers with talent who have wasted their bright futures just to earn some quick cash. And even the more experienced and older cricketers seem to be only taking a very small step away from being tempted.
Indian Cricketers Who Were Banned for Fixing (Updated 2025)
1. Mohammad Azharuddin
It is a pity that a player of Mohammad Azharuddin’s stature had to get involved in a major match-fixing scandal. He was a top Indian captain and a modern-day master batsman.
Slowly, but surely, the reports linking Azharuddin with the underworld in Mumbai surfaced, and his once-respected career witnessed a downward spiral. In 2000, he was banned for life by both the BCCI and ICC. Although the BCCI ban was lifted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court a few years later, the ICC has, however, not reinstated it.
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2. S. Sreesanth
Sreesanth was taken into custody in May 2013 due to his alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the IPL, and he finally admitted the crime.
He was convicted of taking Rs. 40 lakh to bowl a no-ball with the knowledge of the match in which his team, the Rajasthan Royals, was playing.
A cricketing community swept up in a wave of collective rage and disbelief did react to the news that the player had used his towel as a cipher for the bookies.
3. Manoj Prabhakar
Prabhakar was one of India’s cricketing icons who had to bear the dramatic consequences of the ‘Tehelka’ scandal in 1999. He used hidden microphones and cameras to catch his teammates talking about corruption. He became the center of attraction when he made the scandalous allegations of match-fixing against the Indian greats like Kapil Dev.
The match-fixing allegations were so strong that they not only led to public demand but also investigation by the board. Prabhakar’s name was among those unfortunate ones whose careers got ruined. The BCCI eventually banned him for match-fixing.
4. Ajay Sharma
The BCCI banned Ajay Sharma, who had one of the greatest domestic cricketing careers ever, for life in connection with a match-fixing scam.
On the other hand, the former cricketer has every reason to feel wronged, for a Delhi district court cleared him of all charges in 2014. But it was too late; the ban had had its toll on him and he was left with no career.
5. Amit Singh
During an IPL season, his bowling action was deemed suspicious and he was reported twice, but got cleared after each occasion. The legendary fast-bowling pair of Sreesanth and Fidel Edwards took the place of Singh in the Rajasthan Royals‘ squad.
According to media reports, he was not only involved in the IPL spot-fixing scandal but also had phone conversations with the bookies and may even have acted as a middleman for them. As a result, the BCCI imposed a five-year ban on him.
6. Siddharth Trivedi
Trivedi confessed to the cops that the two suspected bookies, i.e., Deepak Sharma and Sunil Bhatia, had come to him and were demanding Rs. 3 lakh. He is said to have returned the cash afterwards because of his fear of getting caught.
Trivedi’s career could not be revived after the BCCI had already slapped a one-year suspension on him.
7. TP Sudhindra
The trap set by India TV brought an end to Sudhindra’s promising career. Sudhindhra during the operation acknowledged that he was the one who bowled a no-ball for a volunteer in a Madhya Pradesh Premier League T20 match.
Sudhindhra even went so far as to say that he could do it again and that spot-fixing in the IPL was really easy. His name came up in a sex scandal along with that of others during the probe, landing him with a life ban from the BCCI.
8. Ankeet Chavan
The life ban from the BCCI is the only thing Ankeet Chavan, an all-rounder of the Rajasthan Royals, is associated with, rather than his significant on-field achievements. He cried during police detention while being questioned and admitted guilt.
Later that year, the BCCI imposed a life ban on him. The decision of the Mumbai Cricket Association to subsequently release his dues and pay him Rs. 32 lakh on “compassionate grounds” is believed to have annoyed the BCCI.
9. Mohnish Mishra
Mohnish Mishra was not only a promising young cricketer but he had also become the center of controversy after he had joined IPL’s rival Indian cricket league for which he was banned from playing in his state team. Still in 2009, he came back playing for state and that was the last time he had experienced anything like the earlier days of his career as BCCI had given him amnesty. He was with Deccan Chargers for the 2010 season and then he had a remarkable domestic season.
The year 2011 saw Mishra as a member of the Pune Warriors. He was still one of the suspects whom India TV’s sting operation managed to capture, and the BCCI banned him for a year. This incident put an end to Mishra’s career and he has since become a forgotten face in cricket.
10. Shalabh Srivastava
Shalabh Srivastava was one of the promising left-arm medium-pace bowlers of Uttar Pradesh. He played a very brief spell with Kings XI Punjab until the scandal of the India TV sting operation ruined his career. It was claimed that Srivastava during the operation confessed that he used to take black money from the franchises and was ready to do spot-fixing for money.
The release of the tape recordings caused BCCI to ban Shalabh Srivastava for five years starting from May 15, 2012.
