Harbhajan triggers huge uproar with controversial statement with regards to the fans of MS Dhoni and other fans.
Harbhajan Triggers Huge Controversy after making a rather controversial statement.
In Indian cricket, fan wars are not unusual. Occasionally, fan groups of one cricket player argue with those of other cricket players. With fan bases that radiate unmatched fervour for the person and the sport, cricket players are revered in India like gods. Harbhajan Singh, a former cricket player for India, made a highly contentious claim when he implied that the only Indian player currently having “real fans” is “Thala” MS Dhoni, the captain of the Chennai Super Kings.
Harbhajan’s remark was made as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Kolkata Knight Riders game on Saturday marked the start of the IPL 2025 season. Harbhajan stirred up controversy at a JioStar interview when he implied that Dhoni’s fan base is genuine, but that the number of other players’ followers also has a “paid” component.
“If any cricketer has real fans, it’s Dhoni. The rest are paid,” Harbhajan said.
“Kitna bacha hua hai aur jab tak dum hai khelo bhai. Meri team hoti to shayad main kuch aur decision leta,” Harbhajan said durig the show.”Aur seedhi si baat hai fan to chahenge kyunki unke fan jo hai. Mujhe lagta hai ki sabse zyada fan agar asal wale fan jo hai wo unke hi hai (CSK). Baaki to ye bane banaye hai jo aajkal social media aadha to paid hi chalta hai par ye inke fan jo hai wo asali hai. Inke jo fan hai wo sahi mein fan hai. Baaki yahan wahan jo aap number dekhte ho wo chhodiye number unke upar kabhi baithenge to charcha karenge,” he added.
“MS Dhoni iss baar dekhein to accha khele hain, theek thaak khele,” the former spinner further remarked. Aakash Chopra, a former cricket player for India who participated in the conversation, advised Harbhajan not to have spoken “so much truth.”
Fans even wondered whether Harbhajan’s remarks were a jab at Virat Kohli’s supporters, who had flocked to the stadium to honour the Indian batsman following his announcement a few days ago that he would be retiring from Test cricket.
Kohli’s supporters wore the batter’s Test whites in remembrance of him even though the RCB vs. KKR game in Bengaluru was cancelled due to the unrelenting rain. Many fans even urged the 36-year-old to reconsider his early departure from the game’s longest format.