Cricket is a game of fine margins, and sometimes, those margins spark heated debates for years to come. The most controversial decisions in cricket aren’t just about wrong umpiring calls — they’re about moments that left fans divided, players frustrated, and history books rewritten.
From shocking umpire errors before the DRS era to modern-day video replay controversies, these incidents remind us that cricket, like life, is rarely perfect.
Here’s a look at 10 moments where decisions changed everything is Controversial .
1. The Underarm Bowling Incident – 1981
- Match: Australia vs New Zealand, 3rd Final, Benson & Hedges World Series
- Controversy: Trevor Chappell’s underarm delivery
With New Zealand needing six off the last ball to tie, Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl underarm along the ground. While legal at the time, it was seen as against the spirit of the game and sparked outrage across the cricketing world is Controversial.
This moment remains a symbol of cricketing controversy and led to underarm bowling being banned.
2. England’s Win on Boundary Count – 2019 World Cup Final
- Match: England vs New Zealand, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final
- Controversy: Deciding the winner by boundary count after a tied Super Over
In the most dramatic final in cricket history, the match ended in a tie after the Super Over. England were declared winners based on scoring more boundaries. Many, including players and fans, criticised the rule as unfair, leading to ICC rule changes later is Controversial.
3. Sachin Tendulkar Given Out – 1999 Adelaide Test
- Match: Australia vs India, 2nd Test
- Controversy: LBW to Glenn McGrath while ducking a bouncer
In one of the strangest LBW decisions ever, Tendulkar was given out while ducking a short ball that hit his shoulder. Fans and experts were stunned, calling it a clear umpiring blunder is Controversial.
4. The Sydney Test Drama – 2008 “Monkeygate” Scandal
- Match: Australia vs India, 2nd Test
- Controversy: Harbhajan Singh’s alleged racial comment towards Andrew Symonds
Apart from several questionable umpiring calls, the game was overshadowed by the racial abuse allegation against Harbhajan Singh. This incident strained India-Australia cricket relations and became one of cricket’s most controversial off-field issues is Controversial.
5. Stuart Broad’s Non-Walk – 2013 Ashes Test
- Match: England vs Australia, 1st Ashes Test
- Controversy: Broad edged the ball to slip, but wasn’t given out
With no DRS reviews left, Broad stayed put despite a blatant edge. While within the rules, his refusal to walk fueled debates about sportsmanship in cricket.
6. Inzamam-ul-Haq’s Oval Forfeit – 2006
- Match: England vs Pakistan, 4th Test
- Controversy: Pakistan refusing to take the field over ball-tampering accusation
After umpires penalised Pakistan for alleged ball tampering, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq led his team to boycott play. The match was awarded to England by forfeit — the first such case in Test history.
7. Kumar Sangakkara’s ‘Mankad’ Outrage – 2014
- Match: Sri Lanka vs England, 4th ODI
- Controversy: Jos Buttler run out at the non-striker’s end by Sachithra Senanayake
While perfectly legal, the dismissal sparked arguments about the “spirit of cricket” and whether warnings should always precede such run-outs.
8. The Phantom Catch – 2007 World Cup
- Match: Australia vs Sri Lanka, Final
- Controversy: Confusion over light and overs in rain-hit match
The final ended in near-darkness after umpires insisted the last overs be bowled despite poor visibility. Many felt the conditions were unsafe and diminished the final’s quality.
9. Pakistan’s No-Ball Controversy – 2010 Lord’s Test
- Match: England vs Pakistan, 4th Test
- Controversy: Deliberate no-balls in spot-fixing scandal
An investigation revealed that certain no-balls were intentionally bowled for betting purposes. The scandal shook the cricketing world and led to bans for key players.
10. Virat Kohli’s DRS Meltdown – 2017 Bangalore Test
- Match: India vs Australia, 2nd Test
- Controversy: Allegations of Australia seeking DRS input from the dressing room
Kohli accused the Australian team of abusing the DRS system, leading to a tense series and heated press conferences. While no conclusive proof emerged, it remains one of modern cricket’s most talked-about controversies.
Why These Decisions Still Matter
These controversial moments show how rules, interpretation, and human judgment can shape cricket history. Whether it’s an umpire’s honest mistake, a misunderstood law, or a decision within the rules but outside the “spirit of the game,” these moments fuel debates long after the match is over