 "IPL 2025: Harbhajan Singh faces heat after comparing Jofra Archer to 'kaali taxi' during SRH-RR match")
Indian spin legend Harbhajan Singh is no stranger to controversy. From being accused of racially abusing the late Andrew Symonds in the infamous ‘Monkeygate’ scandal in 2008 to getting banned for the remainder of the inaugural IPL season later that year after slapping S Sreesanth , ‘Bhajji’ has had his fair share of unsavoury incidents.
On Sunday, Harbhajan found himself facing a massive backlash on social media for his comment on Rajasthan Royals (RR) pacer Jofra Archer during their opening match of IPL 2025 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The 44-year-old was on Hindi commentary for the SRH-RR game at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium when he compared Caribbean-born English pacer Archer to a “kaali taxi” (black taxi).
“London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, aur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai (Like the meter of London’s black taxis, Archer’s meter has also been on the higher side),” Harbhajan was heard saying during SRH’s innings in the afternoon clash of the Sunday double-header.
Racism at Peak 😂😂😂😂
— B I S W A J E E T (@Biswajeet_2277) March 23, 2025
Harbhajan Singh Calling Archer Kali Taxi pic.twitter.com/ijdEqFgNbX
Whether Harbhajan intended to racially target Archer or not isn’t clear with the ‘Turbantor’ yet to post a clarification for the same, either on social media or on air. Archer, who was born and brought up in Barbados and moved to England at the age of 20, went wicketless for 76 runs as SRH blasted their way to a mammoth score of 286/6 . The former India off-spinner, therefore, might have had his economy of 19 in mind while making the comment.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNetizens call for ‘Bhajji’ to be sacked as IPL commentator
His poor choice of words, however, did not go unnoticed on social media, and led to a barrage of criticism with many calling for him to be taken off-air.
Obviously in the UK we get the #IPL2025 world feed so didn’t hear Harbhajan Singh and his awful racist comment about Archer first hand.
— Erika Morris (@ErikaMorris79) March 23, 2025
However plenty did and it’s time that IPL and Star Sports take a stance and take him off air.
Isa Guha was made to apologise on air for her comments on Bumrah, don't think BCCI and Star Sports will have the guts to do the same to Harbhajan.
— AntiBazballian ™ (Joe Root Paglu) (@rs_3702) March 23, 2025
"London me kaali taxi ka meter tez bhaagta hai, aur yaha pe Archer sahab ka meter bhi tez bhaaga hai."
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) March 24, 2025
This is precisely what Harbhajan Singh said on air during SRHvsRR game!
In one of the most controversial incidents in Indian cricket history, Harbhajan had been accused of calling Symonds a “monkey” during the second Test of the 2007-08 tour of Australia in Sydney. Harbhajan, however, categorically denied making such a comment, claiming he had responded to Symonds’ verbal aggression with “teri maa ki” (your mother’s…) which sounded similar to monkey.
Harbhajan narrowly escaped a ban after the Indian team threatened to abandon the tour with two Tests and a one-off T20I and an ODI triangular series still left.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
