Former India batter and ex-CSK top-order player Subramanian Badrinath clarified on Monday after a comment he made during IPL 2026 coverage drew heavy backlash online. The controversy erupted during RCB’s innings in Raipur last Sunday, when Badrinath discussed Krunal Pandya’s cramps as Mumbai’s wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton assisted the batter.
Key takeaways
- Subramanian Badrinath issued a clarification on Monday after his Sunday IPL 2026 remarks went viral on social media.
- The comment was made during Tamil commentary for RCB’s innings in the RCB vs Mumbai Indians match in Raipur.
- Badrinath said he was praising Rickelton for helping Krunal Pandya despite the high-pressure stage of the game.
- He added that he supported awarding fair play points to Rickelton and Mumbai Indians for putting sportsmanship first.
- RCB went top of the IPL 2026 points table with a two-wicket thriller over MI, while the five-time champions were knocked out of playoff contention.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named Player of the Match for taking four wickets and scoring seven runs off two balls.
What triggered the backlash
The incident took place on Sunday in the IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Mumbai Indians in Raipur. Badrinath, part of the Tamil commentary panel during RCB’s batting, remarked on Krunal Pandya’s condition after it appeared he was dealing with cramps. His statement followed when Ryan Rickelton came to the aid of the opposing batter.
After the clip spread rapidly, many fans accused Badrinath of mocking Pandya. The criticism centered on a perceived suggestion that Rickelton should not help a player from the opposition and that he should instead “let him die.” The backlash quickly escalated into intense trolling across social platforms.
Badrinath’s clarification on what he meant
Facing sustained online criticism, Badrinath broke his silence and explained the exact message he delivered on air in colloquial Tamil. He stated that his intention was to recognize Rickelton’s gesture, not to belittle Pandya. Badrinath argued that the match situation was tense and that Krunal had been the key difference-maker between the sides.
He further claimed that he advocated fair play points for Rickelton and the Mumbai Indians for assisting Krunal and prioritising the spirit of the game. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Badrinath wrote: “Let him die there”… that’s not going to be my attitude. I will go and stretch him. Great gesture from Ryan Rickelton.. Fair Play points should be given to him and MI for that. This is what I said on air, for people who don’t understand colloquial Tamil,”.
RCB’s thriller and the turning moments
On the same Sunday, the defending champions RCB strengthened their position in the IPL 2026 standings by moving to the top of the points table. They achieved a thrilling two-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians, while the five-time champions found themselves out of the playoff race.
Krunal Pandya stood out as the most significant differentiator in the contest, scoring 73. For RCB, the innings looked like it might be closing after his wicket, but the defending champions staged a comeback. The momentum shifted when Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck a six at a crucial moment, bringing the chase back within reach with nine runs still needed off the final three balls.
With two runs required from the last delivery, Rasikh Salam Dar and Bhuvneshwar ran hard to complete the chase and seal the win for RCB. Bhuvneshwar finished as Player of the Match, credited with a four-wicket haul and also contributing seven runs off two balls.
