GamblingHood Exclusive 2026: Are IPL Matches Fixed? The Full Truth, Scams, Signals & What Really Happens Behind the Scenes

GamblingHood Exclusive 2026: A complete 2500-word deep investigation into whether IPL matches are fixed, how fixing actually works, past scandals, bookie networks, players’ involvement, and what’s really happening behind the world’s biggest cricket league

AWARENESS

11/16/20254 min read

Introduction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest cricket tournament in the world — bigger than some international events, richer than most sports leagues, and watched by over a billion people globally.
But with fame comes suspicion.
With money comes doubt.
With betting comes corruption.

Every year, fans ask the same burning question:

“Are IPL matches fixed?”

This question becomes even louder during:

  • Impossible run chases

  • Strange dropped catches

  • Weird captain decisions

  • Suspicious no-balls

  • Sudden momentum swings

  • Last-ball thrillers that feel too perfect

This GamblingHood Exclusive 2026 breaks down the full picture —
the truth, the lies, the myths, the reality, the past scandals, the current loopholes, and whether IPL 2026 is truly clean.

This is the deepest and most honest breakdown you will ever read.

Why IPL Always Faces Fixing Allegations

The IPL is a multi-billion-dollar tournament.

Big money causes:

  • massive betting

  • huge pressure

  • political influence

  • high emotional involvement

  • shady bookie networks

Every season sees:

  • 50X betting increase

  • online apps exploding

  • illegal betting syndicates activating

  • fans blaming match outcomes on fixing

But blaming IPL blindly is not the full truth.
We need to separate myth from reality.

The Dark History: IPL Has Been Fixed Before

People ask, “Are IPL matches fixed?”
But the correct question is:

Has IPL ever been involved in fixing?
YES. 100% yes.

The 2013 IPL fixing scandal shocked the world:

  • S. Sreesanth (Rajasthan Royals)

  • Ajit Chandila

  • Ankeet Chavan
    were arrested for spot-fixing.

Even worse —
Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings were banned for two years because of deep links to betting syndicates.

Bookies were caught with:

  • phone recordings

  • coded chats

  • pre-decided overs

  • no-ball planning

  • huge cash movement

This confirmed ONE FACT:

Fixing has happened in IPL.
But the real question is — does it still happen NOW?

Let’s break that down.

How Fixing Actually Works (The Real System Bookies Use)

Most fans think “fixing = entire match fixed.”
But modern corruption works very differently.

1. Spot Fixing (Most Common)

Bookies ask players to:

  • bowl a wide

  • overstep for a no-ball

  • score under a certain number

  • drop an easy catch

  • get out intentionally

  • give away runs in 1 over

This is easier, subtle, and harder to catch.

2. Session Fixing

Bookies decide:

  • runs in first 6 overs

  • score in powerplay

  • wickets before timeout

This is where they make huge money.

3. Insider Information Fixing

This is the MOST common form today.

Players or staff leak:

  • injury updates

  • last-minute team changes

  • batting order

  • pitch behaviour

  • toss plans

Not illegal in cricket rules,
BUT it gives bookies enormous advantage.

4. Captaincy Fixing

Very rare, but possible.

It involves:

  • strange field placements

  • weird bowling changes

  • unexpected batting order shifts

And fans say,
“Yeh kya bakwaas captaincy hai? Fix tha!”

But not always true — some decisions are just bad cricket.

Is IPL 2026 Fixed? The Honest Truth

Now the part every reader is waiting for.

NO — IPL 2026 is NOT fully fixed.
BUT — certain elements CAN be influenced.

Let’s go deeper.

Why FULL MATCH FIXING in IPL Is Nearly Impossible in 2026

The BCCI has made match fixing extremely hard because of:

1. Player Monitoring

Players cannot:

  • use phones

  • meet unknown people

  • talk to bookies

  • leave hotel without permission

Every team has an Anti-Corruption Officer living on the same floor.

2. CCTV Everywhere

Hotels, lobbies, lifts, corridors — all monitored.

3. Phones Are Checked

Players’ devices are monitored digitally.

4. Huge Salaries

A player earning ₹10 crore+ has NO REASON to risk a ban for ₹5-10 lakh.

5. BCCI’s Brutal Punishments

One fixing allegation can destroy a career AND reputation forever.

This is why full matching fixing is extremely improbable.

BUT…

Spot Fixing in IPL 2026? Possible?

Yes.
Spot fixing is much easier than match fixing.

Even a superstar bowler can bowl:

  • a wide

  • a no-ball

  • a loose delivery
    without anyone noticing.

This is where risk exists.

But the anti-corruption team monitors:

  • unusual overs

  • betting odds movement

  • sudden money flow

  • abnormal performance patterns

So spot-fixing is rare — but POSSIBLE.

Insider Fixing — The REAL Modern IPL Problem

In 2026, the biggest danger isn’t bowlers or batters fixing.
The real danger is:

INSIDER INFORMATION FIXING

Who leaks information?

  • ground staff

  • analysts

  • physiotherapists

  • junior players

  • net bowlers

  • staff members

  • franchise employees

A simple info like
“Main player injured, won’t play today”
can swing betting odds massively.

And THIS is the fixers’ biggest weapon now.

Why Fans Think IPL 2026 Is Fixed

Fans scream “fixed!” when they see:

  • impossible chases

  • dramatic collapses

  • last-ball finishes

  • weird DRS results

  • unexpected strategic timeouts

  • poor umpiring decisions

But here is the truth:

IPL is intentionally designed for dramatic finishes.
Teams play aggressively.
Risk-taking is rewarded.
The format is unpredictable.

Not every dramatic moment is fixing.
Sometimes it’s just T20 chaos.

Why Some Matches Look Suspicious

Even though IPL isn’t fully fixed, some incidents raise doubts:

1. Strange Last-Over No-Balls

Especially waist-high no-balls in pressure moments.

2. Unexpected Dropped Catches

Players never drop sitters… but then suddenly do.

3. Sudden Collapse of Big Teams

Teams losing 5 wickets for 10 runs creates suspicion.

4. Captaincy Blunders

A spinner bowling the last over?
A newcomer sent ahead of a finisher?
Fans instantly think “fixing!”

But remember —
T20 is the most unpredictable format on Earth.

Past IPL Fixing Cases Prove One Thing

The past scandals involving:

  • Sreesanth

  • Chandila

  • Chavan

  • Meiyappan (CSK official)

  • Raj Kundra (RR co-owner)

prove that corruption DOES exist around IPL.

But after the bans and punishments, BCCI cleaned the league aggressively.

IPL today is MUCH safer than IPL 2013.

Is IPL 2026 Clean? Or Still Dirty? (Final Answer)

FULL MATCH FIXING?

❌ Almost impossible in 2026.

SPOT-FIXING?

⚠️ Rare but possible, especially silently.

INSIDER INFO LEAKS?

⚠️ Very common today — biggest risk.

BOOKIE PRESSURE STILL EXISTS?

✔ Yes. The betting industry is massive.

PLAYERS INVOLVED TODAY?

Probably very few — money & monitoring are too strong.

IS EVERY “WEIRD MOMENT” FIXED?

❌ No. Most of it is just T20 madness.

CAN WE TOTALLY RULE OUT FIXING?

❌ Never. Because where there’s money, corruption follows.

Conclusion

So, are IPL matches fixed?
Not completely.
Not like the past.
Not like Sreesanth-era scandals.

But IPL is not 100% clean either.

There is:

  • money

  • pressure

  • betting

  • loopholes

  • insider info

  • occasional fixing attempts

IPL 2026 is the cleanest it has ever been,
BUT the threat of spot-fixing and information leaks will always remain.