Koffee with Karan row: It 'massively scarred' me says KL Rahul

KL Rahul revealed that he was "massively scarred" by the backlash following his appearance on the 2019 episode of 'Koffee With Karan.' Alongside Hardik Pandya, Rahul made remarks that were criticized as "sexist" and "misogynist" on the popular chat show hosted by Karan Johar.

The Controversy "Changed Me", Says Rahul

The comments made on the show led to widespread condemnation, and received criticism from former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh. As a result, Rahul and Pandya faced suspension just before an ODI series against Australia in early 2019. The 32-year-old disclosed that the fallout from the interview "changed" him entirely.

"The interview was a different world. That changed me. Completely changed me," Rahul said in a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, which also included Bollywood stars Kriti Sanon and Badshah.

"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.

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The wicket-keeper batsman opened up about how he was never even expelled at school and suspension from the Indian Team was a big shocker for him.

"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.

"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 realise how bad it is," he said.

KL Rahul Does Intense Training At NCA Ahead Of Duleep Trophy

Indian cricketer KL Rahul was recently spotted preparing for the 17th edition of the Duleep Trophy. A viral video that's circulating shows him practicing in the nets.

The footage, which has been widely shared on social media, highlights Rahul's dedication as he gears up for the domestic season.

KL Rahul getting ready for the Duleep Trophy and home Test season. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/rVAN8qlYXw

KL Rahul getting ready for the Duleep Trophy and home Test season. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/rVAN8qlYXw
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 23, 2024

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Notably, Rahul was absent from India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad. He also had a disappointing performance in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. In the series, he scored 31 runs in the first ODI, was dismissed for a duck in two balls in the second, and was left out of the third ODI.