KL Rahul , the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has spoken about the intense impact the "Koffee with Karan" controversy had on him. "The interview was a different world. That changed me.
Completely changed me," Rahul stated in a podcast with Nikhil Kamath , which featured Bollywood stars Kriti Sanon and Badshah. The incident, which occurred five years ago, left him 'massively scarred' and resulted in significant changes to his personality. Following controversial remarks about women made alongside fellow cricketer Hardik Pandya on Karan Johar's talk show, both players faced severe backlash, resulting in their suspension prior to an ODI series against Australia.
"I was a very shy, soft-spoken boy growing up. Then I played for India and became very confident, I had no problem being in a huge group of people. People will know I have been in a room of 100 people because I would talk to everyone.
"Now I don't (do that) because that interview scarred me massively. Getting suspended from the team. I have never been suspended in school, I have never been punished in school.
All this never happened to me. I didn't know how to handle it," he added. Rahul elaborated on his schooling experience, emphasising he had never faced severe reprimands.
"I did mischievous things in schools like chota mota (small things), but nothing to get me expelled from school or my parents have had to come. That was my first, and then you realize how bad it is," he explained. The controversy emerged in 2019 after Rahul and Pandya's comments on the celebrity talk show were branded as "sexist" and "misogynist.
" The episode, which aired on January 6, featured the two cricketers discussing their relationships and crushes. Their comments drew severe criticism from fans and former players such as Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh. During an hour-long appearance on Karan Johar's talk show, Hardik Pandya boasted about his first sexual experience, sharing, "When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj.
'" Pandya also recounted an incident at a party where, when asked by his parents about his romantic interests, he casually pointed out multiple women, to which his parents responded with, "Waah, proud of you beta." His comments continued to raise eyebrows when he added, "I like to watch and observe how they [women] move. I'm a little from the black side, so I need to see how they move," explaining his approach in nightclubs.
Despite Rahul's attempt to keep the conversation respectful, Pandya's unfiltered remarks dominated the discussion Rahul then shared how they approach the situation when both of them are interested in the same person, stating, "It's up to the woman." However, Pandya quickly interjected, dismissing the idea, saying, "No, no, it doesn't work like that. It's all about talent.
Whoever gets her, takes her. It's based on talent.".
