Former Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath shot into the spotlight on Sunday after a light-hearted but widely criticised on-air comment during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians match in the IPL 2026. The incident happened while RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya was batting in the middle overs and suddenly started to cramp up, forcing him to seek attention while holding his leg. Mumbai wicket-keeper Ryan Rickleton rushed over to assist, and Badrinath’s joking remarks about “letting him die” with the cramps sparked backlash from fans online.
The exchange during the match
- During the RCB chase, Krunal Pandya suffered cramps while batting, prompting him to step away from the crease and hold his leg as discomfort visibly set in.
- Ryan Rickleton immediately went to help Krunal on the field, responding quickly to the situation.
- In the middle of the commentary, Subramaniam Badrinath joked about what he “would have thought” in the context of the game, framing it as if he were considering whether the opposition would want Krunal left to struggle with the cramp.
- Badrinath later returned to the moment with an exaggerated “rival” angle, suggesting the scenario was as though the opposition had an incentive for Krunal to be sidelined by the cramps—while still acknowledging that Rickleton did assist him.
- Despite the apparent attempt at humour, supporters reacted strongly, taking issue with the remark coming from a former professional cricketer.
Earlier in the chase, Mumbai had done significant damage to the RCB top order, but Krunal’s innings gave Bengaluru a fighting chance. He struck 73 off 46 balls, doing the bulk of the scoring work at a time when the match swung towards the chasing side’s opponents. As the innings moved deeper, the pain worsened, and his cramps started to interfere with his movement and comfort at the crease.
Social media quickly turned the commentary clip into a debate about compassion and sportsmanship. Several users questioned how such language could be tolerated during a live broadcast, while others highlighted that Krunal was visibly suffering and needed medical attention rather than being treated as a punchline.
Krunal on battling through the cramps
After the match, Krunal Pandya addressed his determination to keep going despite severe cramps. He explained that the problem became intensely painful as it spread, starting in his calf and hamstring and then involving other parts of his body, including both legs.
He said he was clear about not walking off, describing that his focus was on fighting through the pain and still contributing wherever possible for the team. Krunal also referenced the match’s importance, noting that it was a crucial game—particularly with the tournament nearing its climax—where every fixture carried weight.
When asked how he managed to continue despite the severity of the cramps, the RCB batter pointed to mentality and the ability to stay composed under pressure. He stressed that his approach to cricket has often been about not giving up, and he framed the effort as a combination of willpower and courage to keep his place in the contest.
