'I had never been suspended in school...': KL Rahul reveals impact of Koffee with Karan episode controversy on him

Indian cricketer KL Rahul recently reflected on the aftermath of his appearance on Koffee with Karan in 2019. Speaking on a podcast with Nikhil Kamath, Rahul shared how the incident deeply impacted him, prompting a more grounded outlook on life and fame.

Recalling his childhood, Rahul described himself as a soft-spoken individual who gained immense confidence after debuting for the Indian cricket team. However, that confidence was shaken following the KWK controversy. During the 2018-19 Australia tour, he and teammate Hardik Pandya were suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to their remarks on the show. The duo was forced to leave the tour midway and return to India—an experience that left a lasting mark on Rahul.

"I used to be good with trolling. I used to think I didn’t care. I was much younger back then," Rahul admitted. "But a couple of years ago, I was exposed to a lot of trolling. If I sat, I got trolled. If I stood, I got trolled."


He further elaborated on how the interview changed him. "That interview scarred me massively. I was a very soft-spoken person growing up. Then I played for India, and my confidence grew. I was always comfortable in a room full of 100 people. But now, I don’t feel the same because of that experience."

Rahul also emphasized how difficult it was for him to process the suspension. "I had never been suspended in school, never even punished. I did my share of mischief, but nothing that would get me expelled or make my parents come to school," he said.

KL Rahul and Pandya will now feature in historic play against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal on Tuesday. It will not be a straightforward task, though, as the Aussies are a resilient beast in global tournaments even without their lead cast of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

The last time India triumphed against Australia in the knockout stage of an ICC event was way back in 2011 World Cup quarterfinal.

India lost to Australia in the semifinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup and in the title clash of the 2023 ODI World Cup before succumbing to them in the World Test Championship final in 2023.