KKR pick sparks political storm over Bangladesh

The inclusion of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League has triggered a political storm, with parties sparring over nationalism, sport, and India’s strained ties with Bangladesh.

The controversy erupted after the IPL 2026 auction, where Kolkata Knight Riders bought Rahman for ₹9.20 crore. While analysts called it a shrewd cricketing move, political backlash followed amid heightened tensions after the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh. KKR’s co-owner, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, soon became the focus of the debate.

BJP leader Sangeet Som backed Hindu spiritual figure Devkinandan Thakur’s attack on Khan, with Som branding the actor a “gaddar (traitor)” and alleging that investing in a Bangladeshi player amounted to supporting a country hostile to India. He cited alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and questioned cross-border investments under such circumstances.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam urged Khan to drop Rahman, warning that links with Bangladesh could invite public anger. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey went further, calling for a ban on Bangladeshi and Pakistani players in the IPL, arguing it hurt national sentiment.

The Congress hit back, calling the attacks divisive. MP Manickam Tagore B said branding a cultural figure a traitor over a sporting decision undermined India’s pluralism. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate questioned cricket authorities, asking how Bangladeshi players were included in the auction pool and indirectly targeting the BCCI and ICC leadership.

Muslim organisations also intervened. Maulana Sajid Rashidi said sport and cinema transcend borders and should not be politicised, while Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said signing a Bangladeshi cricketer did not amount to betrayal and did not diminish concern for minorities in Bangladesh.

The episode underscores how sport in India is increasingly entangled with geopolitics. What began as a routine IPL auction has turned into a flashpoint over identity, nationalism, and regional tensions. For now, KKR has shown no sign of reversing its decision, and cricket authorities remain silent.