5 Indian cricketers with poor off-field disciplinary record

Cricketers are often seen as role models for the young fans who are very impressionable. Discipline and behavior play a huge role in a cricketer’s life, be it on the field or off the field. Even though performance and talent frequently make the news, what transpires behind the scenes can have just as much of an influence. Off-field conduct can affect endorsements, fan perception, and even selections.

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Indian cricket has seen various cases where controversies have become headlines involving cricketers whose antics in public overshadowed their talents and skills. There have been appearances on TV shows, anger issues, and much more derailing a cricketer’s reputation, and today we see five such Indian cricketers with poor off-the-field disciplinary records. 

Here are the 5 Indian cricketers with poor off-field disciplinary records:

1. Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu was a talented batter who made a delayed Indian debut and had an unfulfilled career for the Men in Blue team. However, Rayudu played 55 ODIs for India, scoring 1694 runs with three centuries and 10 fifties, at an average of 47.05 and a best score of 124*. He also played six T20Is, scoring 42 runs.

However, Rayudu is infamous for his fiery temper, both on and off the field. He was infamously filmed getting angry at a senior citizen. The incident happened in 2017, when he could be seen pushing and slapping a senior citizen in Hyderabad. He also had taken a huge ‘3D’ dig at then chief selector MSK Prasad after he was dropped from India’s squad for the 2019 World Cup.

2. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is a mercurial pace-bowling all-rounder, perhaps the best after Kapil Dev India has seen. Pandya had made his India debut in 2016, after impressing everyone with his batting and bowling in the IPL. He has played 11 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 120 T20Is for India. He no longer plays Tests due to his back injury, suffered in 2018, but is active in T20Is and ODIs.

Hardik Pandya’s biggest controversy and disciplinary issue came thanks to his appearance on Karan Johar’s TV show Koffee with Karan. His claims of his sexual escapades, sexist remarks, and inappropriate remarks on the show led to a huge uproar from fans and the general public. He, along with KL Rahul, was suspended temporarily and forced to issue a public apology.

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3. Vinod Kambli

One of the most talented batters of the 1990s, Vinod Kambli was often considered better than his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar. Kambli made his India debut in 1991 and went on to play 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, scoring 1084 and 2477 runs with 6 centuries and 17 fifties combined. He was the first Indian to score back-to-back double tons in Test cricket.

However, Kambli couldn’t handle the glam and fame that came with being a top cricketer, and his vices got the better of him. He played his last Test in 1994 and final ODI for India in 2001. Since then, he has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. He was arrested for drunk driving and was accused of assaulting his maid and even his wife, Andrea Hewitt. He further blamed Sachin Tendulkar for his poor career choices. Recently, he suffered a huge health scare and was admitted to the hospital but has recovered from the same.

4. Sreesanth

One of the most naturally talented fast bowlers of his era, Sreesanth's career took a nosedive following a dramatic spot-fixing incident during the 2013 IPL. He was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ICC World Cup winning squads. He was successful in the Indian Premier League as well, but his temper issues overshadowed his cricketing reputation.

Sreesanth was infamous for getting slapped by Harbhajan Singh during the IPL. But his biggest off-field controversy was when Sreesanth got into a heated argument with a fellow passenger on a Bangalore-Delhi flight. He had an argument with a co-passenger about flight attendants.

5. Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw is a tremendously talented batter whose indiscipline and poor conduct, both on and off the field, have led to a serious downfall for the 25-year-old. Shaw led India to the U19 World Cup in 2018 and scored the fastest ton on Test debut for India against the West Indies. He also had an amazing IPL career, but poor work ethics and fitness have put his career in danger.

His biggest off-field controversy has been a counterpace by an influencer, who accused Shaw of hitting her and her friends after rudely refusing multiple selfies with them in a restaurant. Shaw claimed that he and his friends were attacked by the lady and her friends for refusing selfies, and a video of his scuffle went viral.

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