Delhi Capitals Slammed by netizen for Choosing Bangladeshi Player Amid Anti-India Sentiment
Delhi, May 15: In a notable development ahead of the business end of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals have brought back Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman into their squad after a two-year hiatus. The left-arm quick replaces Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Mustafizur’s return in the team’s blue and red colours has generated mixed reactions. While many fans welcomed the experienced bowler’s comeback, a wave of social media backlash has also emerged, with some netizens calling for a boycott of the franchise.
The hashtag #BoycottDelhiCapitals began trending on X (formerly Twitter) soon after the announcement. A section of users criticized the franchise for selecting a player from Bangladesh, alleging the country has seen rising anti-India sentiment and expressions of support for Pakistan in recent months.
One viral post read:
“YES Boycott 🔥🔥 Shame on Delhi Capitals! How can they pick players from a country where anti-India voices are growing and open support for Pakistan exists? Is the IPL running out of true patriots? We stand against those who stand against India. #BoycottDelhiCapitals”
This online outrage reflects growing sensitivity around geopolitical narratives in cricket, with IPL teams often finding themselves navigating public sentiment beyond just cricketing merit.
Despite the backlash, Delhi Capitals have not issued an official response. Sources within the team management maintain that the decision was purely based on cricketing requirements, aiming to strengthen the bowling unit as the team pushes for a playoff berth.
As the league intensifies, all eyes will be on Mustafizur Rahman—not just for his performance on the field, but also for how this off-field controversy unfolds.
