Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has found himself at the center of a major racism controversy after making an inappropriate comment about England fast bowler Jofra Archer during an IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, occurred during the 18th over of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s innings when Archer was being dispatched for consecutive boundaries by Heinrich Klaasen.
While on commentary duty, Harbhajan remarked: “London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, Aur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai” (In London the black cabs’ meter runs fast, and here Archer’s meter is running fast too).
The comment, widely interpreted as drawing a racial parallel between the color of London’s iconic black cabs and Archer’s skin tone, immediately sparked outrage across social media platforms. Cricket fans and analysts alike have condemned the remark as racially insensitive, with many calling for Harbhajan’s immediate removal from the IPL commentary panel.
This incident is particularly troubling given cricket’s ongoing struggle to address racism within the sport. The International Cricket Council and various national boards have recently strengthened their anti-racism policies following several high-profile incidents in recent years.
On the field, Archer endured a difficult IPL 2025 debut for Rajasthan Royals, conceding 76 runs without taking a wicket in his four-over spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This unfortunate performance now stands as the most expensive bowling figures in IPL history, surpassing Mohit Sharma’s previous record of 0/73 for Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their reputation as T20 cricket’s most explosive batting unit by posting a mammoth 286 for six against Rajasthan Royals. This marked their fourth 250-plus total in T20 cricket, establishing a new record for any team globally, ahead of India and Surrey.
The impressive total fell just two runs short of breaking their own IPL record of 287/3, which they set against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous season.
Ishan Kishan was the standout performer for Sunrisers, smashing his maiden IPL century off just 45 deliveries in a blistering display of power hitting. His innings proved decisive as Sunrisers ultimately secured a comprehensive 44-run victory to begin their campaign on a winning note.
As of press time, neither the IPL Governing Council nor the BCCI has issued an official statement regarding Harbhajan’s comment. Sources indicate that a formal investigation may be imminent as the league takes a firm stance against any form of discrimination.
This controversy casts a shadow over what has otherwise been an exciting start to the IPL 2025 season, with record-breaking performances and dramatic contests capturing fans’ imagination across the cricketing world.