The reason why the IPL is the toughest T20 league in the world is not simply because the world’s best players are playing in it, but also because the rewards for winning are so high. It’s not just a matter of the player’s individual value that shoots up or down with his performances, but also the prizes for winning the tournament or finishing in the top four are pretty huge and the franchise owners give it entirely to the players and support staff to share between themselves. For many players, especially the uncapped Indian players, that share can be as much as what their price was at the auction, where they were bought. There’s always the knowledge that there could be a transfer or like now, a big auction coming up what with two new teams being inducted into the league. That is a huge incentive to give it everything and in trying that, sometimes the lines can be crossed.

Just about every match goes down to the last over and therefore every run, every dot ball matters and in that effort, some players may inadvertently do something that can cause an uproar.