"MS Dhoni has real fans, the rest are paid"- Harbhajan Singh absolutely destroys Virat Kohli

Former Indian spinner and commentator Harbhajan Singh took social media by storm with a shocking remark on MS Dhoni’s fan base, which is seen as a vile dig at Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans on Saturday, May 17.

Praising his former Chennai Super Kings and India captain’s massive fan following across the world, Harbhajan Singh stirred controversy by claiming that “only MS Dhoni has real fans; the rest are paid.” His words exploded in outrage on social media, especially among Virat Kohli and RCB fans.

Harbhajan Singh takes a vile dig at Virat Kohli and RCB fans

The former Indian spinner made controversial remarks on the sideline of RCB’s big IPL 2025 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru, where Kohli’s fans turned the stadium white, paying tribute to the batting icon after his Test retirement.

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Well, MS Dhoni is not just a cricketer, but he's a feeling for millions of fans, especially in Chennai. Every time he comes out to bat, the sound decibel often shoots up as the fans go wild just to see their beloved "Thala," and the stadium turns into a sea of yellow.

Whether CSK plays in Chennai or away, Dhoni’s presence fills the stands and lifts the energy. Dhoni’s calm attitude, charismatic captaincy, and ability to finish games have made him one of the most loved and respected players in the game.

If any cricketer has real fans, it’s MS Dhoni: Harbhajan Singh

And Harbhajan Singh summed up the devotion perfectly by saying, “If any cricketer has real fans, it’s Dhoni. The rest are paid.” Actually, the former cricketer was addressing the recent chatter that the CSK icon is set for another IPL season on Star Sports along with Aakash Chopra.

He said if it were his team, he might have made a different decision about Dhoni’s future but noted that the 43-year-old should keep playing as long as possible before making controversial comparisons between the former Indian captain’s massive fan following and other cricketers.

Harbhajan said, “Play for as long as you’ve got energy left, Bhai. Had it been my team, I would have made a different decision. And it’s simple: fans will always want him to play because they are his true fans. I feel that MS Dhoni has the biggest and most genuine fans.

The rest are just made up. These days, half of social media runs on paid promotions. But Dhoni and CSK’s fans are real and truly loyal. As for others, the numbers you see here and there, leave them out. We’ll talk about those numbers some other time because if we start discussing that, the discussion will go in a different direction.”

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Itna sach nehi bolna tha: Aakash Chopra to Harbhajan Singh

Hearing that, Aakash Chopra couldn’t stop laughing and jokingly said, “Itna sach nehi bolna tha (You weren't supposed to be this honest).” But Harbhajan didn’t hold back and replied confidently, “Someone had to say it.”

Harbhajan singh Cooked Kohli fans, broo said that kohli has paid Instagram bots...

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— 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 (@im_Albert_45) May 17, 2025

harbhajan singhin-directly Targeted Virat fans? as Paid instagram fans#chinnaswamystadium #RcbvsKkr pic.twitter.com/KYZygETjbP

— 👑 King Kohli Fan Page (@Hracingchannel) May 17, 2025