Former India U19 World Cup hero Manjot Kalra arrested in LPL corruption probe as SLC vows zero tolerance

Former India U19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested in an alleged LPL corruption case as SLC pledged full cooperation and zero tolerance.

Updated on: Jul 18, 2026, 08:35:54 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption after Jaffna Kings co-owner and former India Under-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested over allegations of attempting to induce a player into corrupt practice during the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Manjot Kalra was the man of the match in the Under-19 World Cup 2018. (X images)

Kalra was arrested on Friday by the Police Special Investigations Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports. He was subsequently produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody until July 31, according to local media reports.

Another Indian national, identified as Yuvraj Pushpa, was also arrested in connection with the investigation and remanded after being presented before the court.

Sri Lankan authorities allege that money was offered to a player in connection with the tournament. Reports said the alleged approach was brought to the attention of investigators before the start of the competition, leading to the arrests on the opening day of the 2026 LPL season.

SLC promises full cooperation

Responding to the development, SLC said the investigation would not disrupt the five-team tournament and confirmed that the competition would proceed as scheduled.

“Sri Lanka Cricket, together with the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, will extend its fullest cooperation to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports should any assistance be sought in connection with any inquiry arising from the matter,” SLC said in an official media release issued on July 17.

The board added that it would not tolerate corruption, misconduct or foul play by any stakeholder associated with the competition.

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SLC said its Anti-Corruption Unit had worked closely with the government’s SIU before the tournament to strengthen the league’s integrity framework. It has also engaged Integrity Mentors, an independent anti-corruption and sports integrity organisation, to provide specialist support and education throughout the event.

Kalra, 27, was one of the standout performers in India’s victorious 2018 Under-19 World Cup campaign. He scored an unbeaten century against Australia in the final as the Prithvi Shaw-led side lifted the title. He later moved into sports entrepreneurship and became part of the Jaffna Kings ownership group ahead of the 2026 season.

The arrest came hours before Jaffna Kings were due to face Galle Gallants in the tournament opener at the SSC Grounds in Colombo. Despite the controversy, SLC maintained that the league would continue without interruption and that all necessary measures had been taken to protect its credibility. The allegations have not yet been tested before a court.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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