MS Dhoni, Mary Kom Losing Their Cool To Hardik Pandya's Dirty Talk - The Worst Of Indian Sports In 2019

Indian sports enjoyed a good 2019, but the year had its share of controversial moments and forgettable outings. Here, we look at Indian sports' 10 such 'worst' or controversial moments in the last 12 months.  (More Sports News)

Painful ICC World Cup Exit 

India were the favourites to win the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England. But Virat Kohli & Co ended up losing the semi-final to New Zealand with mercurial Mahendra Singh Dhoni getting out on a no-ball. The legend was India's last hope, and it vaporized the moment a rocket throw from Martin Guptill hit the stumps. India lost by 18 runs while chasing a 240-run target in that Two-Day International in July.

Read: Ten Worst Sporting Events That Highlighted 2019

MS Dhoni Ko Gussa Kyun Ata Hai

Continuing with Dhoni, a different storm had hit cricket with the legend storming the field of play during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Jaipur in April. A no-ball confusion ensued as the two umpires failed to come to an agreement over the height of a ball delivered to Mitchell Santner. Dhoni, who just took off his pads after getting out, stormed on to the field and was seen furiously arguing with Indian umpire Ulhas Gandhe. No many were happy with Captain Cool's behaviour. And that night, Dhoni lost some of his aura.

Watch: Furious MS Dhoni Argues With Umpires

I-League And Indian Football's Fatalism 

Let's football, corporate style, with two distinct halves -- the haves and have-nots fighting for the future rights. And in this fight for one-upmanship, I-League lost out to Indian Super League (ISL) as the country's premier league. I-League became the sacrificial lamb as Indian football accepted the road-map. But fans can see the rot there, the crass commercialisation et al. 

Shocking Prithvi Shaw Doping 

Prodigious Test opener Prithvi Shaw, along with two other Indian domestic cricket players, were suspended for doping violations in July. Shaw, 19, was charged with the commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Article 2.1 on July 16, 2019, resulting in a back-dated suspension, for eight months, which ended on November 15.

Also Read: Ten Best Sporting Events That Highlighted 2019

Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul Paid The Price For 'Koffee' 

For the second time in more than eight decades, Indian cricketers were sent back home for disciplinary reasons. And they were Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul. In a TV show, Hardik Pandya had boasted about hooking up with multiple women and being open about it with his parents. Rahul was, however, a shade more restrained in his responses on relationships and women. But both paid the price.

King Kohli Vs Hitman Rohit 

After India's exit from the ICC Cricket World Cup, allegations arose that there is a rift in the dressing room between captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma. It also claimed that only those who are part of ‘Virat Company’ or those indispensable to the team -- like Rohit himself and Jasprit Bumrah -- get a chance of playing.

Mary Kom vs Nikhat Zareen - Needless Controversy 

In the last week of the year, Mary Kom defeated Nikhat Zareen to book her place in the Indian team for the 2020 Olympic qualifiers. But the story didn't end then and there. Mary refused to shake hands with the challenger after the bout, and it gave birth to another round of controversy. The row began when Zareen asked for a trail bout against Mary.

No Shooting In 2022 Commonwealth Games 

Shooting will not be added to the roster of the 2022 Birmingham Games despite Indian Olympic Association's boycott threat, a Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) official said in November. Shooting has always been one of India's top medal contributors in the CWG. The discipline yielded 16 medals, including seven gold at the last edition of the event in Gold Coast. For the first time since 1974, the sport has been excluded from the Games roster.

Nur-Sultan Saved India Vs Pakistan, Davis Cup Tie 

Kazakhstan capital, Nur-Sultan played the hosts to Pakistan vs India Davis Cup tie, saving the International Tennis Federation (ITF) from massive embarrassment. The tie was originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad in September but was pushed to November 29-30 after India expressed concerns about the safety of their players due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations following the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Read: 'It's Like 9/11' – 8 Reasons Why Tie In Islamabad Is Unsafe

Ambati Rayudu's 3D Jibe 

After being overlooked twice by the Indian national cricket team, Ambati Rayudu decided to call it quits and announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in July. Rayudu initially groomed as India's number four, but missed the bus with '3-D player' Vijay Shankar getting the nod. Rayudu even got his social media moment, posting a 3-D glass. By August, he was ready to denounce the retirement to the relief of everyone.

And there were more...