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In a celebratory mood after the India Champions triumphed over the Pakistan Champions by five wickets in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) final, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh posted a reel video on Instagram. The video featured his teammates Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina walking with visible discomfort, suggesting their bodies were sore after the intense tournament.
Harbhajan Singh Apologizes for Controversial Instagram Reel
However, the reel quickly sparked controversy. Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi commented on Harbhajan’s post, criticizing him for seemingly mocking the walking pattern of people with disabilities. The backlash prompted Harbhajan to delete the video and issue a public apology on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Harbhajan clarified his intentions in his apology, stating, “I want to explain to everyone upset about our recent video after winning the championship in England. We didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. We respect everyone, and this video was just to show how sore our bodies were after playing cricket for 15 days straight. We were not trying to insult or offend anyone. If anyone feels we did something wrong, I am very sorry. Let’s put this behind us and move forward. Stay happy and healthy. Love to all. Regards.”
The incident occurred after the India Champions successfully chased down 157 runs against the Pakistan Champions in the WCL 2024 final. Ambati Rayudu led the charge with 50 runs, supported by contributions from Gurkeerat Singh Mann (34 runs) and Yusuf Pathan (30 runs). Anureet Singh was the standout bowler, claiming three crucial wickets in the summit clash.
Despite the victory, the controversy overshadowed the team’s celebration, highlighting the sensitivity required when sharing content on social media. Harbhajan’s prompt response and apology aimed to address the concerns raised and move forward positively.
