Born on April 17, 1972, in the picturesque city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan's journey is legendary. Hailing from a Tamil Hindu family, he encountered challenges from the get-go. Yet, amidst the trials and tribulations, he emerged as a cricketing icon, etching his name in the annals of sporting history.
The cricketing universe bows in reverence to Muralitharan's unparalleled feat – he stands as the lone warrior, the sole possessor of 800 wickets in Test cricket. But oh, the path he traversed was fraught with controversy. Critics took aim at his unorthodox bowling actions, casting doubt upon his unparalleled success.
As we celebrate his birthday today, let us revisit the tumultuous controversies that shaped Muttiah Muralitharan's life – both on and off the hallowed cricketing turf.
Murali faced additional scrutiny when match referee Chris Broad reported him in 2004
The debate over Muralitharan's bowling action has been ongoing for years, with him being reported four times for a suspected breach of cricketing laws. Despite this, he found reassurance through biomechanical testing conducted by the ICC. In 1995, controversies erupted in Melbourne and Brisbane when umpires called "no-ball" on his action multiple times.
Biomechanical analysis in 1996 revealed a congenital defect in his arm, explaining the optical illusion of throwing. During the 1998–99 Australia tour, accusations resurfaced, almost leading to a match abandonment. Despite scrutiny, further testing in Perth and England cleared him. In 2004, concerns arose over his doosra's legality, prompting changes in bowling laws. The ICC raised the elbow extension limit to 15°, making his doosra legal, after studies showed it exceeded the previous limit.
Muralitharan underwent further biomechanical testing at the University of Western Australia on February 2, 2006, to address concerns that the previous tests did not replicate match conditions. The results revealed that his average elbow extension for the 'doosra' was 12.2 degrees, and for the off-break, it was 12.9 degrees. In July 2004, he bowled with an arm brace in England, proving that even with the brace, his action remained consistent. This demonstration aimed to reassure sceptics rather than influence an ongoing ICC investigation into his doosra delivery.
Muralitharan voluntarily underwent tests in Colombo, showcasing his ability to bowl all deliveries, including the doosra, with the arm brace. These tests confirmed that his unique shoulder rotation and wrist action enabled him to bowl without straightening his elbow in 2004.
Plans were unveiled in July 2019 for the Tamil biopic 800, starring Vijay Sethupathi as Muralitharan. However, filming faced delays due to political opposition. Despite this, on October 8, 2020, the project was confirmed to move forward, with details and a first-look poster revealed. The casting sparked controversy, with concerns raised by netizens and politicians from Tamil Nadu regarding Muralitharan's alleged support for the Rajapaksa regime and the Tamil genocide.
Muralitharan denied these claims, urging Sethupathi to withdraw from the project amidst the turmoil. On April 17, 2023, coinciding with Muralitharan's birthday, the initial glimpse of "800" was unveiled, featuring Madhur Mittal in lieu of Sethupathi. Produced by Movie Train Motion Pictures, the film was shot across diverse locales and eventually premiered on October 6, 2023, accessible for streaming on JioCinema.
