During what was supposed to be another exciting evening of IPL 2025 action, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh found himself at the centre of an unexpected controversy. While commentating on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) match, Harbhajan made an off-the-cuff remark about England fast bowler Jofra Archer, comparing his expensive over to the meter of a "kaali taxi" (black taxi) in London.

Jofra Archer, who is representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025, was taken to the cleaners by SRH batters. As a result, the bowler delivered the most expensive spell in IPL history, conceding 76 runs in four overs. Commenting on Archer's performance, Harbhajan Singh made a controversial remark on the player. Here's what he said:

"London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, Aur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai" ("Like the meter of London's black taxis, Archer's meter has also been on the higher side").

Fans unimpressed with Harbhajan Singh's racist comment on England pacer

What may have been intended as a light-hearted comparison didn't sit well with many viewers. Social media erupted almost instantly, with fans calling the remark insensitive and questioning its undertones. Some were especially surprised given Harbhajan’s own past experiences with racial controversies during his playing days. Calls for an apology or clarification have been growing, but so far, Harbhajan has yet to respond.

Amid the controversy, the match was a spectacle of sheer batting fireworks from both teams batters. SRH batter Ishan Kishan scored a blistering century of 106 runs from 49 balls that stole the show. In response, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel made sizable contributions but lacked support from other batters in the lineup. In the end, it was Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) who emerged victorious by 44 runs and gained two crucial points in the first match of their IPL 2025 campaign.

For now, there hasn't been any official statement or apology issued by the former Indian spinner on the matter. It would be interesting to see whether Harbhajan Singh comes up with any clarification on it or not.