India vs Bangladesh: From Kohli-Rubel clash to Rohit no-ball, five controversies that have headlined rivalry

It’s less than a week to go until India and Bangladesh face off in a two-match Test series in India, starting in Chennai from 19 September. The Test series will be followed by three T20Is. Over the past few years, the India vs Bangladesh cricket rivalry has produced quite a few memorable moments, like the Men in Blue’s last-gasp win over the Tigers at the 2016 T20 World Cup.

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At the same time, this rivalry has had its fair share of controversies. We take a look at some of the controversies that have headlined the rivalry between India and Bangladesh.

Rohit Sharma no-ball in 2015 World Cup quarter-final

At the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, controversy erupted when India locked horns against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals. In the 39th over of India’s innings, Rubel Hossain bowled a waist-high full toss to Rohit Sharma, who was batting on 89. Rohit played a pull shot towards the fielder at deep square leg, who completed the catch.

However, the umpire declared it as a waist-high no-ball, thus angering Bangladesh players. Replays suggested that the call was marginal. Mustafa Kamal, who was the then ICC president, termed the umpiring as “very poor” and that the was “no quality in the match”. He added that he was “speaking as a fan, and not the president”. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh were “made to lose” in the aftermath of this decision.

Rohit went onto score 137 off 126 balls, playing a crucial part in India’s 109-run win.

MS Dhoni’s head gets photoshopped

A year since the no-ball controversy, another controversy erupted in 2016, this time at the T20 World Cup that was held in India. A photoshopped picture of then captain MS Dhoni’s severed head being carried by Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed went viral. That, however, wasn’t the first time such an incident took place when the two teams met.

Indian batters had struggled against Mustafizur Rahman during an ODI series in Bangladesh. A Bangladesh newspaper had carried a photo which showed Indian players in half-shaved heads, which seemed to signify the impact of Mustafizur’s “cutters”.

Kohli-Rubel fight in 2011, 2015 World Cups

Virat Kohli and Rubel Hossain faced off against each other in the 2011 and 2015 editions of the ODI World Cup. During a group stage match of the 2011 World Cup in Mirpur, the duo were involved in a verbal exchange after Kohli played a punch shot back to Rubel. Rubel then threatened to throw the ball at the former India skipper, which triggered Kohli who handed Rubel a mouthful.

The two met again in the 2015 World Cup, Rubel dismissed Kohli and gave him an animated send-off.

Fake fielding of Virat Kohli

During a T20 World Cup match between the two teams in 2022, Bangladesh’s Nurul Hassan accused Virat Kohli of “fake fielding”. The umpires, however, failed to notice this, and Kohli escaped this without any worries. “It is unfair for any fielder willfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball,” says Law 41.5.1 of the ICC.

Had the umpires noticed it, India would have been penalized five runs. Interestingly, India went onto win that match by exactly five runs.

U19 World Cup final controversy

There was controversy during the 2020 U19 World Cup final between India and Bangladesh at Potchefstroom. Bangladesh won their maiden U19 World Cup title, but the match was marred by violent clashes between players of both teams.

Shamim Hossain, Rakibul Hasan and Towrid Hridoy of Bangladesh, and Ravi Bishnoi and Akash Singh of India were reprimanded by the ICC.