Former Indian cricketer and commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu found himself at the center of a social media controversy after a misleading post falsely attributed a statement to him regarding BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. The viral post, which circulated on X (formerly Twitter), was later deleted after Sidhu publicly denounced it as fake news.
The incident occurred following India’s seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the opening ODI of the three-match series at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The loss, which ended India’s post-Champions Trophy winning run, triggered intense social media debates about team selection and leadership decisions. Amid the chatter, a user named Jod Insane posted a photo featuring Gambhir and Agarkar, alongside a quote urging the BCCI to remove the duo and reinstate Rohit Sharma as captain — falsely claiming it to be Sidhu’s opinion.
Sidhu swiftly responded on Monday, writing: “Never said it, don’t spread fake news, never imagined it. Shame on you.” His reply garnered significant attention and led to the removal of the misleading post.
The controversy came just as the Indian cricket team was regrouping after the disappointing performance. Returning stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who played their first international match since the Champions Trophy, struggled to make an impact — with Kohli dismissed for a duck and Rohit managing just eight runs. India posted only 136 for nine in a rain-interrupted innings, while Mitchell Marsh led Australia’s successful chase with an unbeaten 42.
The second ODI between India and Australia is scheduled for October 23 in Adelaide, where fans expect the Men in Blue to bounce back. Sidhu’s quick clarification, meanwhile, serves as a reminder of the dangers of misinformation in today’s digital sports landscape.