Last Updated:
Recently, Ajit Chandila appeared in a podcast where he opened up on the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and its life-changing aftermath.
Former Haryana cricketer Ajit Chandila who represented Rajasthan Royals in IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is known for shaping careers and letting cricketers live the life they always dreamt of. One of the richest tournaments in the world, the IPL has helped unearth exceptional talent, not just in India but in other countries as well. But there was a time when Indian cricket fans started losing faith in it, and voices were raised to shut it down.
Back in 2013, an incident of spot-fixing tarnished the IPL’s brand value and led to unending criticism from across the globe. S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan were accused and subsequently arrested by the Delhi Police.
The incident rocked Indian cricket once again, with the newer generation doubting players’ intent even in international fixtures. It took almost a decade for the fans to move on, while the lives of the players who were allegedly involved were turned into hell. The Indian judiciary system may have given them a clean chit, but the phase they went through was nightmarish.
Recently, Ajit Chandila appeared in a podcast with InKhabar on YouTube and opened up on the incident that changed the life of an IPL hat-trick hero.
“Whatever it was, it hurts me even today when I recall it. The entire world knows that nothing happened. If I was involved, I wouldn’t have been sitting here talking to you. I have recently played a league and thanks to that group for showing faith in me. They have brought me back to life and I played after 11 years. It was a nightmare which I don’t want to talk about. The kids whom I fed turned their backs on me,” Chandila said.
The former Haryana cricketer said the incident impacted him so badly that he was on the verge of ending his life. However, the support from his family fuelled his fight against adversity.
“My family supported me and kept me stable, otherwise I would have committed suicide,” Chandila said.
He revealed an incident that had shattered him to the core. Chandila said he lost his brother while he was in jail.
“While I was behind bars, my elder brother passed away and nobody told me about it. I couldn’t meet him before he was no more.
“I was taken to my home for two days and everything had fallen apart. Everything had ended. I tried convincing people that I was innocent. I went door to door saying, ‘I’ve been given a clean chit. I want to play’,” he added.
Chandila also shed light on how a negative phase in life can affect someone’s future.
“My son plays cricket and keeps calling me to the field. The grounds which I entered like a king once, the kids whom I had helped, those who were desperate to interact with me, they all denied even recognising me. I was completely heartbroken.
“It was a surreal feeling coming back to the field. Otherwise, the last 11 years felt like I was dead. I had no life left in me,” Chandila revealed.
