Sri Lanka Police have arrested former India Under-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra over allegations of attempting to influence the outcome of a Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 match. Kalra, who was part of India’s triumphant 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup squad alongside Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi, was reportedly taken into custody on Thursday night, just hours before the opening game of the new LPL season.
According to multiple reports, Kalra is also a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise. Investigators allege that he attempted to offer approximately INR 9.5 million (around USD 28,700) to a player in an effort to influence the outcome of a match. The alleged approach was reportedly brought to the attention of Sri Lanka’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports around 10 days before his arrest, triggering an official investigation.
Kalra was arrested at a five-star hotel in Colombo and is expected to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in the coming days as the investigation progresses. The 26-year-old was once regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects. He became a household name after producing a sensational unbeaten 101 off 102 balls in the final of the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup, guiding India to victory against Australia. His match-winning century earned him the Player of the Match award and placed him among the country’s most promising young cricketers.
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Following his Under-19 heroics, Manjot Kalra made his domestic T20 debut for Delhi in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was also picked by the then Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) during the IPL 2018 auction. However, he never featured in a match for the franchise and was released ahead of the 2020 IPL auction.
Kalra’s career, however, was overshadowed by controversy in 2019 when Delhi Police filed charges against his parents over alleged age-fraud claims. Authorities alleged that his birth records had been manipulated to allow him to compete in age-group cricket beyond the permitted limit. The controversy resulted in a one-year suspension from the Ranji Trophy before the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) later cleared him after a new ombudsman reviewed the case.
LPL to continue despite the high-profile arrest of Jaffna Kings co-owner and former India U19 batter Manjot Kalra on suspicion of match-fixing.#Cricket #LPL pic.twitter.com/sHcXXg9wVe
— CREX (@Crex_live) July 17, 2026
In response to the latest developments, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) issued a strong statement reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Lanka Premier League.
“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken note of the media reports relating to the reported arrest of the owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports,” the governing body said. SLC further confirmed that it would extend its full cooperation to the investigating authorities should any assistance be required during the inquiry.
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“As the governing body of the Lanka Premier League 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the tournament and will not tolerate any form of corruption, misconduct, or foul play by any stakeholder associated with the league.”
The incident has cast a shadow over the start of the LPL 2026 season, with the investigation expected to remain under close scrutiny in the coming days. Authorities are yet to establish the full extent of the allegations, and further legal proceedings will determine the next course of action.
