As the cricket world gears up for another high-voltage Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the buzz is already at its peak. The upcoming IPL 2026 is all set to kick off in the March-May window, marking the 19th year of the league that has changed the game forever.
IPL hype and the shadow of match-fixing
Ten teams will fight it out once again for the cup, but every time the IPL comes close, one old topic returns, match-fixing talk. However, this time, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has stepped forward to shoot down the match-fixing concerns with a strong statement.
In 2013, the IPL faced one of its darkest moments when a fixing scandal rocked Indian cricket. Indian players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, and Ajit Chandila were arrested and later banned from the game. This event led to the suspension of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RCB) for two full seasons.
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However, Parthiv doesn’t think that anything like that fixing would have ever happened. Well, that spot-fixing scandal forced the BCCI and IPL to tighten their systems like never before. Since then, monitoring has become stronger, rules have become stricter, and transparency becomes priority.
Inside the IPL: Parthiv Patel’s perspective
Parthiv has lived the IPL life from the inside. He has played for big franchises like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Presently, the former Indian cricketer is part of the Gujarat Titans setup as assistant coach.
This stint gives Patel a clear view of how the league operates behind closed doors. He explained that fixing an IPL match is not as simple as people think, as every player is under constant watch. He revealed that everything is monitored throughout the tournament, and players must report who visits them and where they go, making such things extremely difficult.
Parthiv Patel said on Jay Thadeshwar’s podcast, “I don’t think any game is ever fixed, nor do I believe anything is pre-decided—like which team will win or what will happen in a match. I don’t think that’s possible, based on how much I have played and seen. All your phones, emails, and even details about who visits you at the hotel are recorded. You must account for all your movements, and there is tight security.”
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Tight security and why rumors persist
The Gujarat Titans coach further shared that entry into dressing rooms, stadium areas, and hotels is allowed only for approved people. He noted that every individual has an identity record, and even captains and big players are not given special treatment when it comes to the IPL rules.
Patel further explained, “Everyone needs accreditation. Even if the captain doesn’t have accreditation, he will not be allowed to enter the ground or the dressing room on match day. There are photos of everyone who can access the dressing room and even the hotel areas.”
The former wicketkeeper also explained why match-fixing rumors spread so easily. He pointed out that the IPL is rich, popular, and watched across the world, which makes it an easy target, but similar claims are often made in international cricket as well, but the reality is the total opposite.
Parthiv signed off by saying, “It’s easy for people to say matches are fixed. It’s not just the IPL—even in international cricket, people often talk about fixing. But there is a lot more at stake than simply winning.”
