KKR Batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi Says Sorry For Derogatory Tweet On Saina Nehwal

Angkrish Raghuvanshi, a Kolkata Knight Riders player, faced backlash after mocking badminton star Saina Nehwal on social media. The young cricketer deleted his post on X and issued an apology following the criticism.

A video featuring Nehwal, a former world number one and Olympic medallist, discussing the increasing popularity of physically demanding Olympic sports compared to cricket went viral on July 12. Nehwal's comments emphasised the physical challenges of sports like badminton, basketball, and tennis, which she argued are tougher than cricket.

During her appearance on the Nikhil Simha podcast, Nehwal voiced her frustration over cricket's dominance in India despite its perceived lesser physical demands. "I did it in India because there's no sporting culture here. Sometimes, we feel so bad that cricket gets that attention. What I have to say about cricket is, if you see badminton, basketball, tennis and other sports, they are so tough physically. You don't even have time to pick up the shuttle and serve. You're like (imitates panting), 20 seconds of run and you're breathing so hard. And cricket gets that kind of attention where, I think personally, skill is more important," she stated passionately.

Reacting to the video, Raghuvanshi shared it on his social media handle and mocked Nehwal by suggesting she should face an express delivery from Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. His tweet read, "Let's see how she goes when Bumrah bowls 150k's bumpers at her head." Although he quickly deleted the tweet, screenshots had already gone viral, leading to widespread criticism.

Facing backlash for his remarks, Raghuvanshi posted an apology on his X account. He explained that his comments were intended as a joke but acknowledged their immaturity. "I'm sorry everyone, I meant my remarks as a joke; looking back I think it was a really immature joke. I realise my mistake and I sincerely apologize," he wrote.

Raghuvanshi's Cricket Journey

Earlier this year, Raghuvanshi debuted for KKR in the IPL 2024 season. Known for his impressive performance as India's highest run-getter in the victorious 2022 U-19 World Cup campaign, Raghuvanshi scored 163 runs in 19 innings at a strike rate of 155.24, including a maiden fifty.

This incident highlights the responsibilities athletes hold as public figures, especially regarding their interactions on social media. Despite his achievements on the field, Raghuvanshi's actions serve as a reminder of the impact words can have online.