Watch the Video: Kuldeep Yadav Slaps Rinku Singh Post-Match at Arun Jaitley Stadium
New Delhi, April 30, 2025: A surprising incident unfolded at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday night following the IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC). In a viral video circulating on social media, DC spinner Kuldeep Yadav was seen playfully slapping KKR star batter Rinku Singh, leaving the latter visibly shocked.
The incident occurred moments after KKR secured a 14-run victory over DC, keeping their playoff hopes alive. In the clip, Kuldeep, Rinku, and a few other players were seen chatting and laughing near the boundary. Suddenly, Kuldeep slapped Rinku on the cheek, seemingly in jest. While Rinku appeared surprised and slightly embarrassed, Kuldeep slapped him again, prompting a more serious reaction from the KKR batter, who then appeared to have a word with his India teammate.
The video, captured on live television, has sparked widespread debate online. While some fans dismissed the act as friendly banter between the two Uttar Pradesh teammates, others labeled it inappropriate, with many urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take action. Social media posts reflected divided opinions, with hashtags like #KuldeepSlapgate trending. Some fans called for a ban, comparing the incident to the infamous 2008 IPL ‘Slapgate’ involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth, which led to an 11-match suspension for Harbhajan.
Both Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders moved quickly to defuse the situation. DC posted a video on social media of Kuldeep and Rinku posing together, captioned “Only Pyaar,” suggesting no bad blood between the two. KKR followed suit, sharing a post captioned, “Media (𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘪) vs (𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘬𝘢) Reality! Featuring our talented UP boys,” further clarifying their camaraderie.
Despite these clarifications, the lack of audio in the viral clip leaves the context unclear, fueling speculation about whether the act was purely playful or if there was underlying tension. Rinku, who scored a crucial 36 off 25 balls, had notably targeted Kuldeep during the match, smashing 17 runs off his 15th over. Kuldeep, on the other hand, went wicketless, conceding 27 runs in three overs, marking a rare off-day for the spinner.
The question now is whether the BCCI will launch an investigation into the incident. While no official statement has been issued by the board, the public outcry and comparisons to past controversies may prompt scrutiny. Fans on X have been vocal, with some demanding disciplinary action, stating, “This act is highly condemnable and requires immediate disciplinary action,” while others defended Kuldeep, calling it “friendly fire” between close friends.
As of now, neither Kuldeep Yadav nor Rinku Singh has commented publicly on the incident. With DC slipping to fourth in the IPL 2025 points table and KKR fighting to stay in the playoff race, all eyes are on how the BCCI and the franchises handle this unexpected controversy.
Will this remain a light-hearted moment between teammates, or will it escalate into a formal investigation? Only time will tell.
