Bengaluru, 24th August 2024: In 2019, the episode of Koffee with Karan featuring Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul was removed from Disney+ Hotstar following backlash over their controversial comments. KL Rahul recently discussed the impact of the controversy on his life during an interview on WTF is with Nikhil Kamath.

Rahul reflected on how the experience transformed him, saying, “The interview was a turning point for me. It changed me completely. I was once a shy and soft-spoken person, but playing for India gave me confidence. I had no trouble interacting in large groups, and I would engage with everyone in the room.”

He admitted that the suspension from the Indian cricket team was a significant shock. “Being suspended was a major blow. I had never faced such consequences before, not even in school. I had done mischievous things in school, but nothing serious enough to get me expelled or cause my parents to intervene. The fallout from the Koffee with Karan episode was my first major setback, and it made me realize the severity of the situation.”

The episode featuring Pandya and Rahul stirred significant controversy due to Pandya’s comments about women and his bragging about sexual encounters, which were deemed misogynistic and offensive. The backlash led to both cricketers being suspended by the BCCI, who issued show-cause notices to them. The scandal had extensive repercussions, affecting their careers and missing out on major tournaments.

In personal news, Hardik Pandya’s divorce from Natasa Stankovic has garnered attention, while KL Rahul is married to Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty. Hardik is also rumoured to be dating British singer Jasmin Walia, and there is speculation about KL Rahul’s potential retirement from cricket.