In 2019, star Indian cricketer KL Rahul found himself in the middle of a significant controversy after appearing on the popular talk show *Koffee with Karan* alongside his teammate Hardik Pandya. The pair’s comments during the show ignited a media firestorm, leading to widespread criticism and public backlash. The fallout was so severe that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to suspend both players for a few matches.
As a result, Rahul and Pandya had to return from India’s Australia tour midway, a move that had a lasting impact on both their careers. Recently, KL Rahul opened up about this tumultuous chapter in his life, reflecting on how the incident deeply affected him. Speaking on a podcast with Nikhil Kamath on the latter’s YouTube channel, Rahul shared that the experience fundamentally changed him and left lasting scars.
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KL Rahul confessed that before the controversy, he had been more resilient to trolling and criticism. However, the intense scrutiny that followed the interview took a heavy toll on him, altering his perspective on fame and public perception.
Rahul said “Koffee with Karan interview scarred me massively – getting suspended from the team – I have never been suspended in school or punished – I don’t know how to handle it – I did mischief in school but nothing to get me expelled or called my parents”. [Nikhil Kamath YT] pic.twitter.com/DYUXXZgO2M
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
“I used to be good at handling trolling,” KL Eahul admitted. “I used to think I didn’t care, especially when I was younger. But after that interview, everything changed. It completely changed me. I was always soft-spoken growing up, but playing for India gave me confidence. After that experience, I started questioning everything, and the trolling got to me.”
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Reflecting on the suspension, Rahul revealed that it was a particularly difficult experience for him, as he had never faced such consequences before. “I was never suspended or punished in school, so being suspended from the team was a huge shock. It was hard to process. That interview scarred me massively,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Rahul is now focused on making a strong comeback. He is preparing for the Duleep Trophy 2024 and hopes to return to the Indian team for their upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, followed by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
