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"Only Dhoni Fans Are Real, Others Are Paid": Ex-CSK Star Stirs Controversy With Bold Remark

Rajgeeta Yadav

Harbhajan Singh sparks controversy [Source: @IPL2025Auction] Harbhajan Singh sparks controversy [Source: @IPL2025Auction]

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has landed in hot water online after making a controversial comment that many believe was aimed at Virat Kohli. The remark, made during a panel discussion on Star Sports, stirred up social media, with fans accusing Harbhajan of belittling Kohli’s massive fan base.

Harbhajan Faces Backlash from Virat Kohli Fans

The incident happened just before the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) home game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While chatting on JioStar, Harbhajan caused a stir by suggesting that while Dhoni's fans are genuine, other players, including Kohli, might have some “paid” fans. 

He said, "He can play as long as he can. Had it been my team, I would have made a different decision. Fans will want him to continue playing. I feel he has a real fan base; the rest are all on social media, which are even paid fans. Leave them out, because if we start discussing that, the discussion will go in a different direction."

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra, who was part of the discussion, playfully told Harbhajan, “You didn’t have to be that honest.” Harbhajan responded confidently, saying, “Someone had to.”

Some fans speculated that Harbhajan’s comment was indirectly targeting Kohli, especially since the statement came shortly after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. Kohli’s supporters, still emotional from the news, had planned a tribute for him at the match, wearing his No. 18 Test jersey and filling the stadium with a sea of white.

Unfortunately, the match between RCB and KKR was rained out, resulting in both teams getting one point each. This moved RCB back to the top of the table, but they still need one more win from their remaining two games to secure a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Kolkata has been eliminated from the tournament.