In a night that should have been remembered solely for Krunal Pandya's heroic innings, former Chennai Super Kings star Subramaniam Badrinath has found himself at the center of controversy for an insensitive comment that left cricket fans fuming.
The drama unfolded during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's tense two-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in Raipur, where Krunal Pandya battled through severe cramps to score a match-winning 73 off 46 balls. As the humidity took its toll, the all-rounder's body began to fail him—cramps spreading from his calf to his glutes and eventually his back, forcing him to collapse flat on the pitch while the physio rushed to his aid.
In a moment that showcased the spirit of sportsmanship, Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton crossed the line to help his opponent. The South African not only assisted Pandya in stretching but crouched beside him on the pitch to check on his well-being—a gesture that quickly won hearts across social media.
However, the goodwill was tarnished when Badrinath, commentating on the match, reportedly made a tasteless remark suggesting Rickelton should let Pandya "die of cramps" on the pitch to give MI a better chance of winning. The comment, which appeared to be made in jest, sparked immediate outrage among fans and fellow analysts alike.
"Krunal's leg cramp, Rickleton didn't say, 'Krunal, you die because of cramp,' but he came to stretch Krunal," Badrinath was heard saying, with many calling the remark completely out of line for a professional commentator.
The incident was particularly jarring given the context of the match. After his heroic knock, Pandya admitted that batting for such a long stretch was unusual for him. "I was cramping a lot. It started from my calf and just spread everywhere. I don't usually bat that long, so this was a real test of character," he said in the post-match presentation.
For RCB fans, the victory was sweet—but Badrinath's words left a bitter aftertaste on what should have been a celebration of perseverance, grit, and the best of cricketing spirit.