How 'Koffee With Karan' controversy 'scarred' KL Rahul
Cricketer KL Rahul has addressed the controversy that arose from his appearance on Koffee With Karan in 2019. The incident, which also involved Hardik Pandya, led to their suspension by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). During a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Rahul admitted that the interview "completely changed" him. Rahul and Pandya were part of the Indian cricket team touring Australia when the episode aired; however, following severe backlash, they had to leave the tour midway.
'The interview was a different world'
Rahul revealed, "I used to be good with trolling...I used to think I don't care. [Earlier], I was exposed to a lot of trolling. If I sat I got trolled, If I stood I got trolled." "The interview was a different world. I was a very soft-spoken person growing up. Then I played for India and became very confident. People will know I have been in a room of 100 people." "Now I don't because that interview scarred me massively."
Rahul's suspension: A first in his life
Rahul expressed his struggle with the suspension, stating that it was a first for him. "Getting suspended from the team...I have never been suspended in school, punished in school. I don't know how to handle it." "I did mischief in schools but nothing to get me expelled from school or my parents have come." "That episode and the subsequent backlash were my first major fall, and it made me realize just how severe the consequences can be."
Flashback: Pandya's comments that caused nationwide outrage
During the episode, Pandya told host Karan Johar, "When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj (I had sex today)'. At a party, my parents asked me 'acha tera wala (women) kaun sa hai [who is your interest here?]...they were like 'waah proud of you beta." "I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I need to see how they move."
How things went from bad to worse
Johar also asked the duo what happens when they both like a girl, to which, Rahul said, "Upto the woman." However, Pandya contradicted him and said, "Nahi nahi aisa kuch nahi hai, talent pe hota hai. Jisko mila woh leke jao. It is on talent." Though Rahul largely refrained from objectionable comments, Pandya was caught in the eye of the storm and bashed online for "sexist" comments. Eventually, both faced disciplinary action from the BCCI.
