Former Indian cricketer and commentator Subramaniam Badrinath landed in controversy after allegedly making an insensitive remark about Krunal Pandya during the high-voltage IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians. The incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered widespread criticism from cricket fans.
The controversy unfolded when Krunal Pandya suffered severe leg cramps while batting during RCB’s tense chase in Raipur. As the all-rounder struggled in pain on the field, Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton walked up to check on his well-being and offered help in a gesture praised by fans as true sportsmanship.
However, during the Tamil commentary broadcast, Badrinath allegedly joked that instead of helping Pandya, Rickelton should “let him die there” so that RCB would lose the game. Although the comment was reportedly intended as humor, viewers found it highly inappropriate given the visible pain Krunal was experiencing on the field.
Soon after clips of the commentary surfaced online, fans across social media platforms slammed Badrinath for what they described as an insensitive and disrespectful statement. Many users called the remark “unprofessional” and argued that injuries and player health should never become the subject of jokes during live broadcasts.
"Let him die of cramps on the ground" says former cricketer S Badrinath while doing Tamil commentary during the RCB MI game. How is this being tolerated, how's this funny? pic.twitter.com/qy8X7jXd73
— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) May 11, 2026
Ironically, Krunal Pandya went on to become the hero of the match despite battling cramps throughout his innings. The RCB all-rounder played a sensational knock of 73 runs off 46 balls and guided his side to a thrilling last-ball victory over Mumbai Indians, helping Bengaluru strengthen their playoff position while knocking MI out of contention.
While neither the broadcasters nor Badrinath had officially addressed the controversy at the time of reporting, the incident sparked a larger debate around commentary standards and on-air responsibility in modern cricket. Fans continued demanding accountability, with many insisting that commentators should maintain sensitivity and professionalism, especially during situations involving player injuries.