Top 5 Controversies from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

When Australia and India face off on the cricket pitch, spectators are treated to a lot of drama in addition to the actual action. The India vs Australia Test series is nothing without a spice of controversies, making it one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in cricket history. The series often makes the cricket news headlines for different reasons and the search for fantasy tips during this series is proof of that. Although match prediction talks in favour of a certain team during each match, the India-Australia clash remains a high-voltage one every time the two sides take on each other. 

Over the years, these fiery encounters have tested the players’ skills, temperament, and sportsmanship under intense scrutiny. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has seen many contentious and unpleasant situations throughout the years of the bilateral clash.  India will seek to make it three Test series wins in a row in Australia, while Australia will be looking to win a Test series against India for the first time in ten years in the current edition. Through this listicle, the cricketwinner team revisits the five biggest controversial moments from the realms of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.

1. Monkeygate Scandal

The Monkeygate Scandal was possibly the most controversial incident regarding a robust Test match clash between India and Australia. The incident involving Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds occurred at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The Australian all-rounder accused the Indian spinner of using the racial epithet "monkey" when the former was batting.

Both teams went on to defend their players, with India maintaining Harbhajan did not racially slur the Australian player. The International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently suspended the Indian spinner for three matches. However, the restriction was eventually lifted due to a lack of proof.