A fresh storm has hit the Indian Premier League (IPL) even before the 2026 season begins, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KK) and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who is also the Bollywood icon, finding themselves at the center of a heated political and social media debate.
KKR and Shah Rukh Khan Face Backlash for Signing Mustafizur Rahman
Ahead of IPL 2026, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Shah Rukh Khan are embroiled in a controversy. Actually, the controversy erupted after KKR signed Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.20 crore in the recent IPL Auction 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
The left-arm pacer’s signing has ignited a fierce political and social media storm, raising questions about geopolitics and sentiments of the fans amid the unrest in Bangladesh.
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The Mustafizur Rahman Signing That Ignited the Controversy
Mustafizur Rahman, a specialist in bowling at the death, brings huge experience with him, having played eight IPL seasons in the past and represented Bangladesh in 257 international matches. However, his signing has drawn sharp criticism due to reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
At the recent IPL mini-auction, KKR moved to bolster their death bowling by securing the experienced Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman, a specialist in bowling at the death, brings huge experience with him, having played eight IPL seasons in the past and represented Bangladesh in 257 international matches.
However, this move drew a lot of criticism, with critics linking it to reports of communal unrest in Bangladesh. Notably, Hindu minorities have been targeted by the Bangladeshis under the interim government, with rising mob lynchings and arson attacks making it tough for them to survive there.
Political Backlash and Calls for Boycott
The controversy found a powerful voice when BJP leader Sangeet Som publicly questioned the inclusion of a Bangladeshi player during a sensitive time when Hindus have been killed in that country. His remarks quickly sparked a political row, with calls growing louder for Bangladeshi players to be banned from the IPL altogether.
The issue escalated further when Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya also joined the criticism, increasing direct pressure on Shah Rukh Khan and the KKR management.
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Soon after, the demand exploded on social media with hashtags like #BoycottKKR and #BoycottIPL trending online, reflecting growing public anger, but there has been no official reaction so far from KKR, the BCCI, or IPL organizers on the matter.
Can Kolkata Knight Riders Simply Drop Mustafizur Rahman? The Contractual Bind
From a purely cricketing perspective, KKR has bowling depth, and Mustafizur was likely a rotational option. However, dropping him for political reasons is a contractual problem. The IPL works on a no-play, no-pay system. If a player withdraws from the tournament on his own before playing a single match, the franchise does not have to pay him, even in cases of injury.
However, if the franchise itself decides to drop the player after the auction, the situation becomes complex. Once the auction ends, a formal contract is signed. If the player is fit, available, and not banned, the franchise is usually required to pay him even if he never plays a match.
In many past cases, teams and players have mutually agreed to cancel contracts to avoid financial damage. Franchises avoid payment only if a player is officially banned by the IPL for serious violations such as match-fixing, corruption, doping, breaching the code of conduct, or playing in unauthorized leagues without permission.
