IPL Controversies: The Indian Premier League is one of the most famous sports leagues in the world. It adds a strong touch of glamour along with the thrill of cricket. But many times, some incidents have happened in the IPL that have harmed the league’s reputation.

Whether it was the slapping incident in the first season or the spot-fixing scandal, such controversies have raised questions on the league. Apart from this, fights between players have also hurt the IPL’s image.

One such fight happened between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc during one season. Both players lost their temper in the middle of the field, and Pollard even threw his bat in anger. Later, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers stepped in and somehow calmed the situation.

Pollard and Starc’s Big Fight in IPL 2014 — What Happened?

This controversy between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc happened during the IPL 2014 season. At that time, Pollard was playing for Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, and Starc was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), led by Virat Kohli. The match was played at Wankhede Stadium between RCB and the Mumbai Indians.

How Did the Fight Start?

This incident took place in the 17th over of the Mumbai Indians’ innings. Pollard was on strike, and Starc was bowling. Starc bowled a bouncer, which Pollard failed to hit. After this ball, Starc walked toward Pollard and said something. Then, he returned to his run-up.

Pollard signaled Starc to go back. But when Starc started running for the next ball and reached the crease, Pollard stepped away from the stumps. Despite seeing this, Starc did not stop and threw the ball in the same direction where Pollard was standing.

Pollard Threw His Bat in Anger

The ball passed very close to Pollard’s feet. Pollard got angry and threw his bat toward Starc. Luckily, the bat did not hit anyone and fell near Pollard himself.

Players and Umpires Tried to Calm the Situation

After this, Pollard complained to the field umpire about Starc’s behavior. Starc also complained about Pollard. Then, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli came to calm the situation and stopped the argument.

Interestingly, after two overs, Starc ran out Pollard.

Punishment After the Incident

After the match, both players were fined for their behavior. Pollard had to pay 75% of his match fee as a fine, while Starc was fined 50% of his match fee.