Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli has found himself embroiled in controversy following an alleged unsavory remark made towards young Punjab Kings (PBKS) debutant Musheer Khan during IPL 2025 Qualifier 1. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, has drawn significant criticism from fans on social media.
The alleged remark surfaced when 20-year-old Musheer Khan, brother of India batter Sarfaraz Khan, walked out to bat on his IPL debut as an Impact Sub for PBKS. While Kohli was visibly animated and pumped throughout the match, celebrating wickets with his characteristic aggression, a viral clip circulating on social media shows him sledging Musheer.
Though Kohli’s exact words were not clearly audible on the stump mic, his gestures and lip movements led many fans to believe he referred to Musheer as a “waterboy,” allegedly saying “Ye paani pilata hai” (This guy carries drinks). The unverified clip quickly gained traction, sparking outrage among netizens.
Fans on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) were quick to condemn Kohli’s alleged behavior, deeming it disrespectful, especially towards a young player making his debut in a high-pressure playoff game. Comments ranged from calling it “surprising even by his own standards” to labeling it “definitely not the best demeanour from a ‘legend of the game’.” Some users even drew comparisons to the more composed demeanor of other cricketing legends like MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.
One fan wrote, “Virat Kohli clearly gesturing ‘Ye Paani pilata hai’ towards a youngster Musheer Khan in today’s match of RCB vs PBKS tells a lot about why RCB fanbase is the most toxic one when the idol is only a troller. Never put him in the respectful league of MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, I repeat never.”
It’s worth noting that earlier in the season, Kohli had reportedly gifted Musheer his bat after a league stage game between the two sides, an gesture Musheer had expressed being deeply touched by. This earlier interaction makes the alleged “waterboy” comment even more surprising to some fans.
Musheer Khan’s debut was a challenging one, as he was dismissed for a three-ball duck by RCB’s Suyash Sharma. Punjab Kings were eventually bowled out for just 101 runs, the joint second-lowest total in IPL playoff history, with RCB securing an eight-wicket victory to book their place in the final.
While Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrated their dominant win, the alleged comments from their star player have cast a shadow over their triumph, highlighting the ongoing debate about on-field conduct and sportsmanship in high-stakes cricketing encounters.
