In 2025, the world of sports witnessed as much drama off the field as on it. From the NBA’s high-profile betting scandal to the Indian cricket team’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players, the year was packed with controversies that dominated global headlines.
Unfortunately, Indian cricketers played a big role. Jasprit Bumrah referred to South Africa captain Temba Bavuma as “bauna”, while Harbhajan Singh used an analogy for England pacer Jofra Archer that reeked of racism. The incidents dominated prime-time news and social media debates for weeks.
Here are the top sports controversies of 2025.
1. India-South Africa ‘grovel’ row
Bavuma had to issue a clarification for head coach Shukri Conrad’s controversial comment on wanting India to “really grovel”. The remark drew criticism from former players, including Dale Steyn, who said that the word “grovel” carried uncomfortable historical baggage.
It triggered memories of the 1976 England-West Indies series, when English captain Tony Greig used the term before being crushed 5-0 by the West Indies. The incident gave the word a racist, colonial connotation.
Meanwhile, Bavuma, who led South Africa to a 2-0 series win, was also trolled by Bumrah during the first match. During the match at Eden Gardens, Bumrah appealed for an LBW against Bavuma. After the umpire turned down the appeal, Bumrah was heard on the stump mic discussing a potential review with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
“Bauna bhi toh hai (He is also a dwarf),” Bumrah said, referring to Bavuma’s height as a reason the ball might have hit his pads higher up.
2. Harbhajan’s racist analogy
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who was one of the commentators for the Indian Premier League (IPL), landed in hot water after he made a racist remark against English pacer Jofra Archer.
During the match between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, Singh used a bizarre kaali taxi (black taxi) analogy when talking about Archer.
“London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, uur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai (Like the meter of London’s black taxis, Archer’s meter also runs fast),” he said.
The remarks by the former India cricketer, who has himself dealt with racism over the years, triggered a huge row on social media.
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3. Medvedev’s aggression on court
Three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev dramatically vented his frustration during his first-round match of the US Open in January. He smashed his racquet after missing a volley at the net against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej. The outburst escalated when he struck the net camera with his racquet, breaking the equipment.
Medvedev dropped two of the first three sets. While he had praised the 23-year-old Samrej early on, the admiration soon gave way to irritation. In the final game of the third set, Medvedev failed to put away a close-range volley, allowing Samrej to win the point with a cross-court forehand.
After losing the third set 3-6, Medvedev regrouped and raised his curiosity, cruising through the final two sets. He ultimately claimed a 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in three hours and eight minutes.
Medvedev has had several emotional outbursts, especially during his earlier years, ranging from arguments with umpires to smashing racquets.
4. Champions Trophy venue fiasco
India refused to travel to host country Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to political tensions and were given Dubai as their venue.
The tournament’s tangled schedule, with teams flying in and out of Pakistan—while India stayed put in Dubai—has been controversial. South Africa batter David Miller said it was “not an ideal situation” for his team to fly to Dubai for a match and then fly back to Lahore in less than 24 hours.
Even Pakistan team had to jump on a jet and fly to Dubai rather than face India on home soil.
India dominated the tournament with four convincing wins. It defeated Bangladesh and Pakistan by six wickets each, secured a 44-run victory over New Zealand, and overcame Australia by four wickets in the semifinal before winning the final against New Zealand.
5. NBA gambling scandal
A major betting scandal was exposed in October with three key ingredients: underground poker games, the mafia, and the NBA (National Basketball Association). FBI Director Kash Patel and US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr said that 34 people were charged in two separate illegal gambling schemes involving NBA personnel.
The first scheme involved six people using secret information about NBA players and teams to place insider bets. In the second scheme, 31 people, including some former athletes, were accused of cheating in underground poker games run by mafia groups.
The NBA’s Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier were charged with money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy. Billups was accused of helping fix high-stakes poker games in several cities, while Rozier was accused of using confidential NBA information to create fraudulent bets. Another accused, former player Damon Jones, has been linked to both schemes.
The next joint hearing is scheduled for 4 March 2026.
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6. India-Pakistan tensions during Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2025 turned into a battleground where politics and provocation repeatedly overshadowed the sport. The tension peaked when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha after the toss, and team India entered the dressing room without shaking hands with its opponents. It prompted Pakistan to lodge a formal complaint.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf inflamed tempers with a ‘6-0’ sign and a falling-plane gesture aimed at Indian fans, while teammate Sahibzada Farhan’s ‘gun-bat’ celebration added to the controversy. Both faced ICC disciplinary hearings.
Adding to the fiasco, Suryakumar’s post-match dedication of India’s win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack triggered an ICC review for potential political messaging. Administrative tensions also simmered, with reports that India had earlier considered withdrawing from the tournament and Pakistan later threatening to pull out.
Though the ICC stood its ground, the standoff exposed how fragile the tournament’s foundations have become.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)