KL Rahul gets candid on how the Koffee With Karan Controversy with Hardik Pandya scarred him greatly

The sixth season of Koffee With Karan made headlines after top cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya graced the hot seat. The two made some statements which made netizens see red. They were slammed as sexist and cheap. While KL Rahul was still cautious with his words, Hardik Pandya got carried away saying some inappropriate things. The two got massively trolled. KL Rahul, Kriti Sanon and Badshah were guests on WTF show which is on Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath’s YouTube channel. KL Rahul said two years back he was trolled for just anything and everything. And he explained how his thought process changed after the infamous Koffee With Karan episode. 

KL Rahul who is from Bengaluru said he was a shy and soft-spoken boy in his childhood and teen years. He grew very confident after he became a part of team India. KL Rahul said he did not flinch when he was put in a room full of people. He told Kamath, “People will know I have been in a room of 100 people because I would talk to everyone. Now I don't (do that) because that (KWK) interview scarred me massively.” 

The aftermath of the incident really shook him up. The two were suspended from a three-match ODI series versus Sri Lanka. They had to pay penalty of Rs 20 lakh each. Both of them had sent apology letters to the BCCI but that did not suffice. Cricket is a religion in India and their comments were considered extremely unbecoming. 

KL Rahul said as a kid he was never punished or suspended in school. Being out of the team left him shaken. He said he did not know how to handle the shock. He said on WTF, “Getting suspended from the team. I have never been suspended in school, I have never been punished in school. Matlab woh hua hi nahi hai mere saath. I don't know how to handle it.” 

He said he might have done small mischief in school but nothing that led to expulsion, suspension or even his parents being called for disciplinary reasons. He said it was the first time he got suspended and felt horrible inside.