In 2016, Sri Lanka's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage publicly alleged that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, held in Mumbai, had been fixed. The claim sent shockwaves through the cricket world, given that the match was one of the most-watched sporting events in history, with India winning their second World Cup on home soil.
Sri Lanka had been in a commanding position in the final, with Mahela Jayawardene scoring a brilliant century. However, their bowlers failed to defend the total as India, led by Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, chased down the target. Aluthgamage alleged that certain Sri Lankan players had deliberately underperformed.
Sri Lanka Cricket set up a committee to investigate the allegations, and the ICC also opened an inquiry. However, no evidence was found to substantiate the claims. Sri Lankan cricketers who played in the final, including Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, strongly denied the allegations and expressed their hurt at having their integrity questioned.
The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit investigation found no credible evidence that the match was fixed. Despite this, the allegations continued to circulate and caused considerable damage to the reputations of the players involved. The episode highlighted how match-fixing allegations, even when unsubstantiated, could tarnish the biggest moments in cricket history.