In a controversial incident during the Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Rajasthan Royals match in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh, now part of the commentary team, stirred a social media uproar.
Harbhajan, while discussing English pacer Jofra Archer's performance, made an offhand remark that sparked allegations of insensitivity.
During the match commentary, Harbhajan metaphorically compared Archer to the rapid fare meters of London’s iconic black taxis, saying, "London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, aur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai," implying that Archer's performance was costly in terms of runs.
The statement, viewed by some as insensitive given Harbhajan's own past experiences with racial undertones in cricket, quickly drew criticism online, with many fans demanding an apology or clarification from the former Indian spinner.
As of now, Harbhajan has not issued any response regarding the incident.
In the match itself, the Sunrisers Hyderabad set a formidable target, amassing 286 runs, marking the second-highest total in IPL history, spurred by splendid innings from Ishan Kishan and Travis Head.
The Rajasthan Royals, despite their best efforts, fell short, managing to score 242 runs. Jofra Archer struggled with the ball, conceding 76 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket, which brought his bowling performance under the microscope.