Ravi Shastri makes bold statement on Chahal's MI incident

Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recently left the entire cricket fraternity in shock after making a revelation about being bullied by a drunk Mumbai Indians teammate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2013.

Recalling the dreadful incident, the leg-spinner revealed how a Mumbai Indians player hung him from a balcony after getting drunk in 2013. Other players had to intervene to bring the situation under control. 

Chahal opened up about the event during a conversation with his current Rajasthan Royals teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and Karun Nair in a video on his YouTube channel. 

"We had a match in Bengaluru. There was a get-together after that. There was a very drunk player. I will not take his name," Chahal told Ashwin.

"He was very drunk and was looking at me, and he just called me. He took me outside, and he dangled me from the balcony."

"My hands were around him. Had I lost my grip, I was on the 15th floor…

"Suddenly, many people who were there came and got the situation under control. I kind of fainted. They gave me water. Then I realised how responsible you should be if you go out anywhere."

Reacting to Chahal's frightening revelations, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said the wrongdoer should be handed a lifetime ban. Shastri further added that the incident is "not funny at all", and it is a matter of concern if the player involved was not in a conscious state of mind. 

"No laughing matter at all. I do not know who the person involved is. He was not in a conscious state of mind. If that is the case, then it is a big worry. Someone's life is at risk, some people might think it is funny, but it is not fun for me. It shows the person trying to do it is in a state that is not appropriate. When you are in such a state trying something like that, the chances of mistakes are even more. So it is not acceptable at all," Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo.

The ex Indian coach reckoned if such an incident happens today, the culprit would have been sent to rehab immediately and not allowed on a cricket field.

"It is the first time I am hearing such a drastic thing like this. It is not funny at all. If such an incident happens today, a life ban for that person involved and send that person to a rehab centre as quickly as possible. Life ban, better not come near to a cricket field then he will realise how funny it is or not funny," he added.

The former Indian batter, Virender Sehwag, also took to Twitter, urging Chahal to name the offender, evaluating the seriousness of the matter. 

Chahal, who Rajasthan Royals picked in the IPL 2022 mega auction, started his IPL 2022 campaign on a terrific note. The leg-spinner has already picked up seven wickets in 3 matches, an economy of 5.45 for the Royals.