Former England cricketer Isha Guha who is currently doing commentary duties for Fox Sports in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 came under fire after she a racially sensitive statement on Jasprit Bumrah live on air during day 2 the third Test match against Australia at Gabba.
She allegedly made a racial comment on Bumrah after India's pacer picked up two quick wickets in the high-voltage clash. India's premier speedster is in the form of his life in an ongoing series. He had picked up a five-wicket haul in India's record 295-run win in Perth while leading the side in Rohit Sharma's absence. He was India's lone warrior in the Adelaide Test where Australia defeated India by 10 wickets. On day 2 of the third Test match, the India speedster picked up his 12th career five-wicket haul amid centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith.
Australia legend Brett Lee was full of praise for the Indian vice-captain.
“Bumrah, today: five overs, 2-4. So, that’s the tone, and that’s what you want from the ex-skipper,” Lee said.
However, in response to the statement, Guha made an eyebrow-raising remark as he called Bumrah a “primate”.
She added: “Well, he’s the MVP, isn’t he? Most valuable primate, Jasprit Bumrah.
“He is the one that’s going to do all the talking for India, and why so much focus was on him in the build-up to this Test match, and whether he would be fit.”
The incident during the second Test match is like the infamous 2008 'MonkeyGate' controversy when Harbhajan Singh was accused by the late Andrew Symonds of using a racial slur by calling him a monkey.
Coming back to the match, Travis Head and Steve Smith's individual centuries helped Australia finish the day on high notes.
Brief Scores:
Australia 1st Innings: 405 for 7 in 101 overs. (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101, Jasprit Bumrah 5/72).
