Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh is under fire for allegedly making a racist comment about England’s fast bowler Jofra Archer during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match. The incident occurred on March 23 during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals when Harbhajan was commentating in Hindi.
During the 18th season of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad clashed in a high-scoring match. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batters dominated Rajasthan’s bowling attack, posting a massive total of 286 runs for six wickets in 20 overs—marking the second-highest total in IPL history.
Jofra Archer, playing for Rajasthan Royals, had a forgettable day as he bowled the most expensive spell in IPL history. The English pacer conceded 76 runs in his four-over spell without taking a wicket.
While commenting on Archer’s expensive spell, Harbhajan allegedly remarked in Hindi that “London’s black taxi meter runs fast, and here Archer’s meter has also run fast.” His comparison of Archer’s bowling economy to London’s black taxis quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage.
Cricket fans and social media users criticized Harbhajan, with many calling for his apology and demanding action from IPL authorities. One user on X (formerly Twitter) called his remark “shameful and disgusting,” while another questioned, “Does Harbhajan think he is white? This is very strange and disappointing.”
