Islamabad, 24 March 2025: Harbhajan Singh found himself in the midst of a controversy after making a racially insensitive remark about Jofra Archer during an IPL 2025 match.
The incident occurred on Sunday when Rajasthan Royals (RR) played against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
During the 18th over, as Archer bowled to SRH batters Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, Harbhajan made a comparison between the England pacer and black taxis in London, stating that both had fast-running meters.
His remark was met with immediate backlash from fans on social media, who criticized him for making a racist comment. Many called for his removal from the IPL 2025 commentary panel.
Archer had a tough outing in his first IPL 2025 appearance, conceding 76 runs without taking a wicket.
His figures became the most expensive in IPL history, surpassing Mohit Sharma’s 0/73 for Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals in 2024.
On the other hand, it was a historic day for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who posted their fourth 250-plus total in T20 cricket—more than any other team, surpassing India and Surrey.
However, they narrowly missed breaking their own IPL record for the highest team total by just two runs, scoring 286/6.
Their previous record of 287/3 came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024.
Ishan Kishan was the star of the match, registering his maiden IPL century in just 45 balls. His explosive innings helped SRH secure a 44-run victory over Rajasthan, marking a strong start to their campaign.
As the controversy around Harbhajan’s remark continues to grow, there are increasing calls for action from the IPL authorities regarding his role in the commentary panel.
