Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has issued an apology after his distasteful remark on Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal. The 2012 Olympics bronze medalist recently compared cricket with other sports and mentioned that cricket isn’t ‘tough physically’.
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The controversy began after a video clip of Nehwal went viral on social media. In the video, Nehwal was heard expressing her opinion on cricket receiving a significant amount of attention in India despite not being a ‘physically demanding sport’, according to her. She compared the physical toll of badminton, tennis, and basketball with cricket and remarked that it is only requires skills.
Raghuvanshi responded to the video by posting it on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) with a comment implying that Nehwal would struggle to handle a 150-kmph steaming delivery from someone like Jasprit Bumrah. While Raghuvanshi evidently looked to back his sport, his comments, however, left a bad taste for viewers.
KKR batter issues apology
Raghuvanshi’s remarks were met with widespread criticism from fans and netizens alike, who condemned his disrespectful and insensitive comment. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Raghuvanshi issued an apology on Twitter. He admitted that his comment was intended as a joke but conceded that it was immature and in poor taste. He expressed regret for his mistake and offered a sincere apology.