Hardik Pandya & KL Rahul’s Koffee With Karan Fiasco: Story So Far
A complete low-down on what’s happened since Pandya and Rahul’s controversial appearance on ‘Koffee With Karan.’
Under fire for their controversial comments on the show ‘Koffee With Karan’, Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were handed suspensions by the BCCI “till a further course of action is decided for this misconduct”.
Both cricketers were made to return home from Australia for their statements, which have been called out for being misogynistic, sexist and racist.
Right from the day the show was broadcast, here’s a chronological low-down of everything that’s happened in the Pandya and Rahul-‘KWK’ controversy so far.
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24 January: Pandya to Join ODI Squad in NZ, Rahul Included in India A
Following the CoA’s decision to lift their bans, the BCCI announced that Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul will soon be back in action.
Pandya has been included in India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series, while KL Rahul will be joining the India A squad that is playing England Lions in five one-dayers.
“Hardik Pandya will be sent to New Zealand to join the team at the earliest and KL Rahul will join the India A squad to play the last 3 one-day games against England Lions,” said BCCI in a press release.
24 January: Pandya & Rahul's Suspensions Lifted
The suspensions on Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were, on 24 January, lifted by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), meaning they can now be selected to play.
The CoA, after consulting new amicus curiae PS Narasimha, decided to lift the suspension, pending an inquiry for which an ombudsman is to be appointed by the Supreme Court. The apex court has listed the matter tentatively for 5 February.
Pandya is expected to take the earliest available flight to join the team in New Zealand for an ongoing limited-overs series, while Rahul might play in either the domestic circuit or show up for India A in the home series against England Lions, a BCCI source told PTI.
23 January: Karan Johar Finally Speaks
Sixteen days after a controversial episode of his chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’ featuring Indian cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya aired, director and producer Karan Johar said he “feels very responsible”.
22 January: "Let’s Not Overreact," Says Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid has coached KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya when they played for India A and said there’s need to not overreact on this matter.
Instead of urging for strict punishment, Dravid said there is a need for the system to educate players, all of whom don’t come from the same background. The former Indian skipper added that the players themselves also need to be more aware and learn from senior members of the dressing room.
21 January: CoA Mulls Counselling for Indian Team
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) is mulling a behavioural counselling programme for the Indian team in the wake of the furore over KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya's sexist comments.
The programme will also include all the age-group national teams and the A squads.
19 January: Pandya Makes First Public Appearance
Hardik Pandya made his first public appearance since being banned for his controversial comments on ‘Koffee With Karan’ on 19 January. The under-fire Indian cricketer, currently serving an indefinite ban, was spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai with brother and fellow cricketer Krunal.
19 January: BCCI President Suggests Suspensions be Lifted
BCCI acting President CK Khanna urged the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to lift the suspensions on Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, while also refusing to convene a Special General Meeting on the matter.
Khanna said calling the SGM to appoint an ombudsman to investigate the two players' conduct, as demanded by board officials, wouldn't be right as the Supreme Court is due to take up the issue next week.
18 January: 'Being Crass is Not a Crime,' Says Swara Bhasker
Actress Swara Bhasker expressed her displeasure about CoA’s decision to involve the Supreme Court.
‘I’m a staunch feminist.. but reallllllyyyyyyyyyyy???????? Like realllyyyy???? Being crass is not a crime!!! And aur koi kaam nahi hai kya hamaarey courts ke paas!!??’ she wrote in a tweet.
17 January: SC Defers Hearing, Pandya-Rahul to Wait Till Next Week
The Supreme Court adjourned proceedings on all BCCI matters for a week. This means that suspended Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul will have to wait another week to learn the quantum of their punishment for the controversial comments made on ‘Koffee With Karan.’
The hearing was adjourned by the two-judge bench comprising Justices AM Sapre and SA Bobde following current amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium's resignation on health grounds.
With the bench nominating former Additional Solicitor General PS Narsimha as the new amicus, the case of appointment of a permanent or ad-hoc ombudsman will only come up as and when the new amicus takes charge.
17 January: Ganguly Says, 'People Make Mistakes, Let’s Move On'
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said "we should move on" from the controversy surrounding Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul's comments because he is sure the two will learn from it and become better persons.
16 January: Hardik Not Stepping Out of House, Says Father
Back home in Baroda since being suspended for his comments on ‘Koffee With Karan’, Hardik Pandya has not left his house and refuses to take any calls, his father has said.
"He watched the match. Ever since he has returned from Australia, he has not stepped out of the house. He is also not taking any calls... he is just taking rest," Himanshu Pandya told Mid Day.
Pandya’s father said while he awaits the decision, Hardik regrets his comments on the show. "He is very disappointed with the suspension and repents the views he expressed on the TV show. He is committed not to repeat the same mistake. We have decided not to talk to him on this subject. Even his elder brother Krunal has not discussed anything about the episode with him. We are waiting for the BCCI's decision," Himanshu said.
15 January: BCCI CEO Rahul Johri Hears Pandya, Rahul
Suspended players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul gave their statements to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, initiating the inquiry into their controversial comments on 'Koffee With Karan’.
It is learnt that both players deposed via telephone after having tendered unconditional apologies in reply to the fresh show cause notices issued by the BCCI.
"The CEO spoke to them via telephone. However, his brief was simple as the inquiry initiator. He has to just collate whatever they have written in their show cause reply. He is expected to submit his report to CoA by tomorrow," a BCCI official, privy to the development, told PTI.
15 January: Khar Gymkhana Revokes Pandya's Honorary Membership
Mumbai’s Khar Gymkhana revoked all-rounder Hardik Pandya's honorary membership of the club.
"The three-year honorary membership was given to Hardik Pandya in October 2018. But the club's Managing Committee Monday evening decided to revoke the membership," Khar Gymkhana's honorary general secretary Gaurav Kapadia told PTI.
14 January: Pandya, Rahul Tender Unconditional Apologies
Suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul tendered "unconditional" apologies for their comments amid CoA chief Vinod Rai saying that the BCCI should correct the two players, not end their careers.
However, despite the apologies tendered by the duo, 10 BCCI units demanded a Special General Meeting to appoint an ombudsman for carrying out an inquiry. Rai's fellow Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji wants an inquiry done by CoA and the BCCI office-bearers.
12 January: BCCI Name Replacements
After India’s loss to Australia in the series opener, Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar was named as Pandya’s replacement while rookie Punjab opener Shubman Gill was called up for the limited over series in New Zealand.
12 January: CoA Chief Wants "Quick Inquiry"
CoA chief Vinod Rai proposed a quick enquiry into the much-criticised comments made by suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, but Diana Edulji fears it will be construed as a "cover up".
The two-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) is divided yet again, this time on how the inquiry into the latest controversy should be conducted.
"We should be in no hurry to conduct the inquiry as it would then look like a cover up job being done," Edulji wrote in her email response after Rai wanted the inquiry to be completed quickly, as the team’s strength had gone down in their absence.
12 January: Gavaskar Lauds BCCI's Decision
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar welcomed BCCI's decision to suspend the cricketers and said that the tainted duo shouldn’t be sharing the dressing room with their teammates.
11 January: Pandya Loses Sponsor
After both cricketers were suspended, it was reported on 11 January that the men’s grooming products brand Gillette had withdrawn their sponsorship contract with Pandya.
“Hardik Pandya’s recent comments do not reflect the values of Gillette. We have suspended our association with Hardik until we decide on further course of action,” a Gillette spokesperson told TOI.
11 January: Pandya, Rahul Suspended Pending Inquiry
Following Edulji’s recommendation, Pandya and Rahul were suspended from playing any form of cricket until final adjudication of the matter, and were both sent home from Australia, where they had been scheduled to play the three-match ODI series.
A five-member Apex Council comprising the elected office bearers – President, Vice President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer – was formed to conduct an inquiry into their “misconduct and indiscipline”.
11 January: Edulji Recommends "Suspension Till Further Action"
After the BCCI legal team refused to declare that the comments were a violation of the code of conduct, Edulji recommended "suspension till further action" against Pandya and Rahul.
"It is imperative that players be put under suspension till further course of action is decided for this misconduct as was done in case of (BCCI) CEO (Rahul Johri) when he was sent on leave on sexual harassment matters," read Edulji's response to the legal opinion.
"Based on legal opinion and final procedure is laid down to address this issue, will recommend that a communication is sent to concerned players and team immediately," Edulji wrote in response to recommendations from the Board's legal firm.
11 January: Comments Not Under Code of Conduct Ambit, Says Legal Team
The BCCI’s legal firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, made it clear that the cringe-worthy comments made by Pandya do not fall under the Code of Conduct ambit.
The copy of the legal opinion, as reported by PTI, stated: "We feel that present matter doesn't fall under the ambit of Code of Conduct and procedure of Code of Conduct can't be invoked in present circumstances."
The firm said the behaviour in question was neither a criticism of any match or against a player or support staff or match official. "In any case the procedure set by the BCCI constitution will have primacy over procedure set out under Code of Conduct," it said.
11 January: Kohli Distances Team India From 'Koffee' Controversy
A day ahead of their ODI series opener against Australia, India captain Virat Kohli said the Indian team doesn't stand by Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for making "inappropriate" comments on women.
“...We definitely don’t align with those views and those are purely individual views. The two concerned players (have) felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what’s happened.”
10 January: Hotstar Removes Episode
Amid the outrage over the episode featuring the two cricketers, Hotstar on 10 January, took down the controversial episode.
"Certain remarks/comments made by the guests on the episode 12 of the show may have hurt the sentiment of our users/viewers. As a responsible platform, we have removed the episode from our platform with immediate effect," Hotstar said in a tweet in response to a query regarding the show being taken off the platform.
10 January: Suspend, Sensitise, Save From Traps, Says BCCI Treasurer
In response to Edulji, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry demanded the under-fire duo be “immediately suspended”, while also proposing the entire team and support staff undergo a “sensitisation process”.
He also took a dig at BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, who was cleared of sexual harassment charges but advised to undergo gender sensitisation by an inquiry committee.
Anirudh said there should also be an investigation into how the two players appeared on an entertainment show.
"...the provisions of the earlier contracts and the practice in place would have required these contracted players to seek permission to appear on the show. Was such a permission sought? Was such a permission granted? If so, by whom?" he asked in his response to Edulji.
"...I question the situation where the sports journalists are kept at bay while access to the players is given to entertainment shows," he said referring to the provision of players needing the Board's approval for routine media interviews.
Anirudh said the ‘loose talk’ on women could also make the two players susceptible to approaches by bookmakers through "honey-traps".
10 January: CoA Chief Recommends 2-ODI Ban
Not convinced by Pandya’s response to the show-cause notice, CoA chief Vinod Rai recommended that both he and Rahul be given a two-ODI ban. An unsure fellow CoA member Diana Edulji, however, chose to first refer the matter to the BCCI's legal cell.
Edulji also sought the opinion of BCCI acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry on the issue.
9 January: Pandya Offers 'Regret' in Response
Pandya responded to the BCCI show-cause notice the same day by saying that he was "sincerely regretful" for his comments.
"I made an appearance on the chat show where I have made certain statements without realising that these could be disrespectful and offend sensitivities of viewers for which I am sincerely regretful," he wrote in his response.
"Rest assured I hold the BCCI in highest regard and will exercise complete discretion and prudence to ensure that such incidents are never repeated in future," he said.
9 January: CoA Issues Show-Cause Notices
Later that day, the Committee of Administrators issued a show-cause notice to both, Hardik and Rahul, and asking for an explanation within 24 hours for their remarks on the show.
"We have sent show-cause notices to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul for their comments. They have given 24 hours to give an explanation," CoA chief Vinod Rai told PTI.
9 January: Pandya Issues Apology
Early on 9 January morning, Pandya posted an apology on his social media accounts, saying he got “carried away by the nature of the show”. He wrote, "After reflecting on my comments on Koffee with Karan, I would like to apologise to everyone concerned who I may have hurt in any way. Honestly, I got a bit carried away with the nature of the show. In no way did I mean to disrespect or hurt anyone's sentiments. Respect".
5 January: Karan's First-Ever Koffee With Cricketers
Hardik Pandya’s crass and demeaning statements about women on the ‘Koffee With Karan’ took many by surprise, and incited immediate backlash online.
Sample this: "Why don't you ask women's names at nightclubs?" asked Johar when Pandya spoke about his struggle in remembering names of the women he interacts with in parties.
From that to talk on his sex life, Pandya's brashness did not taper down. "When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, "Main karke aaya hai aaj (I did it today)," was his response to a question on how "cool" he is with his family members.
"If you all hit on the same women, then how do you decide?" asked the filmmaker. Rahul's response was, "up to the woman." Pandya was more outspoken. "Nahi nahi aisa kuch nahi hai, talent pe hota hai. Jisko mila woh leke jao (Nothing like that, it's about talent, whoever gets them, takes them)," said the all-rounder with a little shrug of the shoulders.