Sri Lanka‘s star cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a few captivating comments over the bats being used by the Indian cricketer. His controversial comments came while speaking with Hari TV. He expressed that the bats Indian cricketers used are not something every cricketer can bring.
Later, as his comments gained momentum on social media platforms and across the cricket fans, the cricketer explained that his comments were translated in the wrong way, as he said those to point out the advanced cricket facilities in India.
India breaching cricket regulations?
During the conversation, Rajapaksa stated that when he was in India, he experienced some Indian bats. He was a part of the Punjab Kings for the IPL 2022 and IPL 2023 seasons. During this time period, he got the opportunity to closely monitor Indian cricket. He grips some Indian bats as well.
The 34-year-old opined that the bats the Indian cricketers used seemed like they had an extra layer of rubber in them. He made the comment to explain how the Indian batters managed to pull off huge shots so effortlessly. That ‘layer of rubber’ comment, for valid reasons, did not go well on the internet amid the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. A part of cricket fans might have thought that the Sri Lankan cricket accused India of bat tampering or breaching cricket regulations.
What Bhanuka Rajapaksa said?
“Indian players have bats that are far superior to the best bats we get. It feels as though a layer of rubber has been applied. I can’t imagine how that’s possible. These bats can’t even be bought by others—all players know this,” Rajapaksa was quoted.
Taking a step further, he also stated that what he said is not a secret; everyone knows about it. “It might sound silly, but that’s honestly what I felt,” he added.
The batter clarified his controversial comments
Later, it was reported that Bhanuka Rajapaksa has clarified his comments. He claimed that might be because of translation; his comments were misunderstood. In his classification, Bhanuka Rajapaksa described that he wanted to praise the high standards of Indian cricket, such as their infrastructure, equipment standards, and system. He also said that Indian bat manufacturers are among the best in the world.
According to a Newswire report, Bhanuka Rajapaksa said in his clarification, “Rajapaksa said Indian cricket is ‘incredibly advanced,’ pointing to its systems, infrastructure, and equipment standards, and described Indian bat manufacturers as among the best in the world. He added that, in hindsight, he could have provided clearer context, stressing that his comments were made with respect.”
Rajapaksa has played 45 T20Is for Sri Lanka but is not part of the T20 World Cup squad. Without his service, the co-host of the ongoing ICC T20 World 2026, Sri Lanka, started their campaign with a win. Sri Lanka will play their next match on February 12 against Oman, after claiming a vital win over Ireland.
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