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Harbhajan Singh apologises to Hardik Pandya for lashing out at him during Koffee with Karan controversy

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has publicly apologised to Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya for not standing by him during the Koffee with Karan controversy in 2018. In the talk show, Hardk and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul were criticised for their sexist comments.

Hotstar, the official broadcaster of the show, had removed the episode after widespread criticism of Hardik's misogynistic and sexist comments. The BCCI had also suspended the two India cricketers and called them home midway through India's tour of Australia 2018-19.

harbhajan-apologises-to-hardik

"At a party, my parents asked me acha tera wala [your women] kaun sa hai, so I said yeh, yeh, yeh [pointing out to some women] and they were like 'waah proud of u beta'," Hardik had said.

"When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Mein karke aaya hai aaj (I had sex today)'." he had added.

The entire episode had drawn flak from the cricket community as well. Harbhajan was one of the many who publicly lashed out at the cricketers. He had said that he would not want to travel alongside Hardik and Rahul for the safety and dignity of his wife and daughter.

The former Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star had also questioned the role of BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit [ACU] when it comes to monitoring players' activities during tours.

"Look, the punishment could be a two-match or three-match ban. That will not change anything. Their reputation was at stake, they have lost the trust of their teammates. If he comes and stands next to you at a party, would you like to stand next to him?

“I will not travel with these two guys in the same bus because if my daughter, if my wife is travelling in the team bus.. how would they feel? You are looking at women in only one angle? That's not right," Harbhajan told India Today.

"He's talking about using other teammates' room. 'C'mon man what are you talking about? You have been in the team for only one year. What do you know about the team?'

"Obviously, the ACU needs to see, which player is going where. The ACU should report to the BCCI. Where was the ACU when KL [Rahul] was out till 5 in the morning," Harbhajan added.

Harbhajan apologises to Hardik on TV

Four years later, following GT's thumping 55-run win over MI on Tuesday, Harbhajan took the opportunity to apologise to Hardik for not standing by him during the tough time. The 42-year-old revealed that he had apologised to Hardik and Rahul after a call from Rohit Sharma.

On Tuesday, Harbhajan, who is on commentary duty for the IPL 2023, apologised to Hardik on live TV with the 29-year-old standing beside him.

"They need support rather than going after them. So I called him and called KL also and said look I am very sorry. If you want to talk to me fine, If you don't want to talk to me that is also fine. But I have this regret.

"I criticised them in public live on TV. So, now I am apologising to them on national television as well. I had already called you and apologised but I hadn't done it publicly. Great is that person who is ready to accept his mistake and I am ready to do that," Harbhajan told Star Sports post the Gujarat versus Mumbai game.

Both Rahul and Hardik are the senior members of the Indian team currently and captains of the respective franchises in the IPL. The two have also led India since the infamous incident.

Story first published: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 13:58 [IST]
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