Sexist Talk: Pandya and Rahul show why BCCI should coach cricketers on communication

Cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have landed themselves in a soup over their controversial comments on popular chat show Koffee with Karan. After the duo was slammed on social media for their sexist and misogynistic remarks on the show, BCCI has decided to send them a show-cause notice. Pandya has already apologised for getting carried away with the nature of the show which expects its guests to reveal saucy details about their lives. Nonetheless, the young cricketers should have known better instead of going overboard with details about their parties, the women in their lives and sexual inclinations.

While it remains to be seen what action BCCI finally takes against the duo, banning cricketers from TV shows — as is being contemplated by the board — is no solution. For, cricket and society today are different from what they were in the past. In a multimedia driven world, cricketers can’t just wrap themselves up in a bubble. Their presence on social media and TV shows is part and parcel of their career. But they should be able to properly manage these roles and not bring disrepute on themselves and the national team. After all, they represent the game and are brand ambassador of the country.

In this respect, BCCI should redouble its efforts to coach cricketers on communication. They need to be taught how to conduct themselves in front of the media, including on social media. Pandya and Rahul are young and can be forgiven for their indiscretion. Nevertheless, the board should take this opportunity to groom them and their colleagues on the team so that they don’t make such mistakes in future.

Read also: Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul showcaused; BCCI considers barring players from non-cricket shows