In a surprising turn of events, Indian cricket legends Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina have come under fire after para-badminton player Manasi Joshi condemned them for mocking disabilities in a recent Instagram reel.
The controversy unfolded shortly after Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina celebrated their victory with the India Champions team, who triumphed over Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends tournament held in Edgbaston. The jubilant win on Saturday saw the retired cricketers basking in the glory of their success.
However, the celebrations took a controversial turn when Harbhajan Singh shared an Instagram reel featuring himself, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina. The trio, seen limping while dancing to the latest Bollywood hit “Tauba Tauba,” sparked outrage among some viewers. The caption accompanying the reel read: “Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket.. Every part of the body is sore. Straight competition to our brothers @vickykaushal09 @karanaujla our version of Tauba Tauba dance, What a SONG.”
Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi, a former world number one in her SL3 badminton category, was notably upset by the reel. She took to social media to express her discontent, highlighting the insensitivity of the cricketers’ actions. Joshi criticized the reel for mocking the gait patterns of people with disabilities, particularly those with polio, and warned of the potential for such behaviour to encourage bullying among young children with disabilities in India.
“This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking the gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India,” Joshi commented. She emphasized the need for greater responsibility from public figures and decried the lack of sensitivity shown by the cricketers.
Joshi’s pointed remarks extended to the broader community and the PR agencies involved, expressing her disappointment in how the reel was approved for a public platform. “If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in the disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel,” she asserted.
The backlash highlights the ongoing need for awareness and sensitivity regarding disabilities, especially among influential public figures. As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how Singh, Raina, and others involved will respond to the criticism.
