Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has hit out at renowned Indian news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai and defended the Ahmedabad crowd's hostile behaviour towards Pakistan players during the ICC World Cup encounter against India on Saturday.
A video of fans chanting “Jai Shri Ram” when Pakistan wicket-keeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan walked up the tunnel to the pavilion went viral on social media.
Reactions poured in from several quarters and one of them was from veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai who condemned the incident and wrote on X: "Afternoon musing: in our park in the morning, we often say ‘Ram Ram’ as an affectionate greeting to each other . Why then use Jai Shri Ram as an aggressive chant to mock Pakistani players? Lord Ram is Maryada Purshottam: he must bring enlightenment, not evoke enmity. Agree?
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Afternoon musing: in our park in the morning, we often say ‘Ram Ram’ as an affectionate greeting to each other . Why then use Jai Shri Ram as an aggressive chant to mock Pakistani players? Lord Ram is Maryada Purshottam: he must bring enlightenment, not evoke enmity. Agree?🙏
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 15, 2023
However, Sivaramakrishnan expressed his strong disapproval of the statements made by Sardesai regarding 'Jai Shri Ram' chants and his pontification for Indian crowds.
The former Indian cricketer pointed out the abuses he faced as a 16-year-old in Pakistan, emphasizing that he had personally experienced mistreatment related to his colour, religion, country, and culture during his time in Pakistan.
What did Laxman Sivaramakrishnan say?
He replied to Sardesai on X and wrote: "What abuses I have got as a 16-year-old in Pakistan, only I know. From my colour to my religion to my country and culture. For Heaven’s sake if you have not experienced it, please don’t talk about it."
What abuses I have got as a 16 year old in Pakistan,only I know. From my colour to my religion to my country and culture. For Heaven’s sake if you have not experienced it, please don’t talk about it.
— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) October 15, 2023
Nonetheless, there were mixed reactions on social media regarding the incident.
Some users shared a video clip from 2017, showcasing Indian players being trolled by Pakistani fans, using it to justify the actions of the Ahmedabad crowd.
On the other hand, several users criticized the behavior of the Ahmedabad fans, pointing out precedents where Indian fans had demonstrated good sportsmanship towards their arch-rivals.
In the match itself, India's Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav played pivotal roles in triggering a stunning collapse for Pakistan. The Indian team secured a dominant seven-wicket victory in front of a crowd of over 100,000 fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
This win marked India's eighth consecutive victory over Pakistan in World Cups, with this streak dating back to 1992.
Who will win the 2023 World Cup?
India, England and South Africa are among the top five favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds from Dafabet are as follows:
| Team | Odds (Dafabet) |
|---|---|
| India | 2.30 |
| England | 6.00 |
| South Africa | 6.00 |
| New Zealand | 6.50 |
| Australia | 8.50 |
Think you know who will win the 2023 Cricket World Cup? Place your bets here with Dafabet!
