Former Indian cricketer and spinner Harbhajan Singh stirred controversy during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 finals between India and Australia for his comments on Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty
Singh made questionable comments about Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty, who were seen conversing in the stadium during the match.
Harbhajan Singh mocks Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty during commentary
Expressing doubts about their cricket knowledge, Singh remarked, “Yahi main soch raha tha ki baat cricket ki ho rahi hogi ya phir films ki… kyunki cricket ke baare mein toh main jaanta nahi kitni samajh hogi” (This is what I was thinking, whether they are discussing cricket or films… because I don’t know how much they understand about cricket).
Did Harbhajan Singh doing commentary just say that Anushka and Athiya probably don't know much about cricket? Vile
— Ria Chopra 🐍 (@riachops) November 19, 2023
Anushka and Athiya were sitting and chatting with each other, and Harbhajan commented, "I don't know if they're talking about cricket or films, I don't think they know much about cricket."#INDvAUSFinal #CWC23Final #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/AWao8x5a0f
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) November 19, 2023
Harbhajan Singh expressed his thoughts when he observed Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty engaging in conversation at the stadium during the match. Harbhajan Singh questioned their understanding of the game based on their interaction.
Fans Criticizing Harbhajan Singh
Social media users are criticizing Harbhajan Singh for targeting the actors, especially since Anushka Sharma is the wife of former Indian captain Virat Kohli, and Athiya Shetty is married to current Indian vice-captain KL Rahul.
Singh’s remarks on the actresses’ cricket sense have sparked backlash online. One user commented, “Typical Harbhajan Singh L. Disgrace as a person. Whether they are talking about films or cricket – who knows how much they understand cricket.”
For those unversed, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 finals between India and Australia are taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Harbhajan Singh’s comments were made at a crucial moment in the match when the husbands of Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, respectively, were on the crease, attempting to guide India to a competitive total after the early dismissals of Shubhman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer.
Users Calling For An Apology
Some users are calling for an apology from Harbhajan Singh for his remarks against the women. One user urged him to apologize, stating, “What do you mean that the ladies understand cricket or not?? Please apologize immediately.”
In the ongoing World Cup, Virat Kohli achieved another half-century, but he was eventually dismissed by Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Team India was struggling at 149 for the loss of 4 wickets in 29 overs.
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