Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik found himself embroiled in controversy during matchday 6 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, courtesy of his on-air comment about Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Yash Dayal. Kartik's remark, "Somebody’s trash is somebody else’s treasure," stirred a storm of criticism, particularly from comedian Danish Sait, associated with RCB as ‘Mr Nags', who strongly disagreed with Kartik's choice of words.
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Dayal, a promising pacer known for his ability to swing the new ball both ways, became the centre of attention during the IPL 2024 auction. His skill-set triggered a bidding war between RCB and Gujarat Titans, eventually leading to his acquisition by RCB for a staggering sum of INR 5 crore, starting from a base price of INR 20 lakh.
Dayal's journey in the IPL has seen its highs and lows. In a memorable yet unfortunate turn of events during the IPL 2023, Dayal, representing Gujarat Titans, conceded five sixes in his final over against Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), propelling Singh to stardom while leaving Dayal with a challenging reputation to overcome.
However, Dayal's performance in IPL 2024 has been commendable. In the match between RCB and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday, Dayal showcased his prowess by emerging as the most economical bowler for RCB. He conceded a mere 23 runs in his 4-over spell and claimed the crucial wicket of Sam Curran, who contributed 23 runs off 17 balls for PBKS.
Despite his impressive performance, Kartik's on-air comment drew significant backlash for its perceived insensitivity and disrespect towards Dayal. Critics argue that such remarks undermine the efforts and achievements of players and contribute to a toxic sporting environment.
How did RCB respond to Murali Karthik's comment?
RCB put out a tweet that read: "He’s treasure. Period."
He’s treasure. Period. ❤🔥 pic.twitter.com/PaLI8Bw88g
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 25, 2024
Netizens also lashed out at Karthik for his comments.
Murali Karthik on Yash Dayal said, "someone's trash is someone's treasure".
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) March 25, 2024
Meanwhile Murali karthik t20 career:#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/vJ94n0P0X1
Murali Karthik on Yash Dayal said, "someone's trash is someone's treasure".
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) March 25, 2024
Meanwhile Murali karthik t20 career:#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/vJ94n0P0X1
The incident underscores the need for greater awareness and sensitivity among commentators towards players' journeys and achievements. While critiques and analysis are integral to sports broadcasting, they must be delivered with tact and respect to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and fairness.