IPL 2020: Fans Come Down Hard On Harsha Bhogle As His 'Misunderstood' Tweet For Vijay Shankar Sparks Controversy

One of the finest voices in the game of cricket, Harsha Bhogle, has been lynched by fans on the internet after one of his tweets sparked controversy. Harsha Bhogle later came up with a clarification on the same and stated that his tweet for SRH all-rounder, Vijay Shankar, was taken in the wrong context by a lot of people.

On Thursday, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) took on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 40 of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). Winning the toss, SRH elected to field first and restricted RR to a below-par score of 154-6 in their 20 overs. Later, in the second innings, SRH chased the target with quite an ease and cruised to an eight-wicket win over their rivals.

The heroes of the win for SRH were Manish Pandey and Vijay Shankar as both these batsmen scored scintillating half-centuries against RR to carry their team until the finishing line.

Fans On Twitter Thrash Harsha Bhogle For His Tweet On Vijay Shankar

After the game, veteran Indian cricket journalist, Harsha Bhogle, came up with a tweet praising the Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar. He took to Twitter and wrote, “The all-round performance of Vijay Shankar is the biggest plus. He had to be batting no 4 as an India player”

Watch the Tweet here:

The all-round performance of Vijay Shankar is the biggest plus. He had to be batting no 4 as an India player @<!---->S<!---->u<!---->n<!---->R<!---->i<!---->s<!---->e<!---->r<!---->s

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

As soon as the Tweet went viral, fans came down hard on Harsha Bhogle thrashing and bashing him for backing Vijay Shankar to represent team India on the basis of just one good performance.

His performance in remaining IPL match was worst and you want to play him in place of Iyer at No.4…

You got to be kidding me…?

He doesn’t have any place in Top 25 Indian players…

— Ashwin Ash (@Ashi737) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

“As an Indian” player he should be batting at No 4 is what he said…That means as he is an Indian player he should bat no 4 for SRH..because Garg is not experienced to bat at that position

— Ajay Malempati (@AjayMalempati) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Yup. Our so-called 3D player. Had MSK prasad opted for Rayadu, Iyer or even Rahane…we would have won the 2019 WC, or atleast the story would have been different.

— Sunil jha?? (@contentwriter88) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

@<!---->c<!---->o<!---->n<!---->t<!---->e<!---->n<!---->t<!---->w<!---->r<!---->i<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->8<!---->8 Shankar was injured and replaced in league stage itself and you claim that India would have won if he was not selected. What stupid reasoning you have. Established players like Rahul, Rohit and Kohli scored 1 run each in the chase of 240. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->B<!---->c<!---->l<!---->v<!---->b<!---->9<!---->4<!---->l<!---->q<!---->K

— Yughandhar Katuru (@YKaturu) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Because he played well today ? How about giving chances to the ones who have been playing well domestically?

— Shanmugaraja CK (@shanmugara) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

I like Vijay, yet I will stop short of saying what you said. Something tells me you should stop tweeting closer to your bed time. The other night you said DK played a cameo for scoring 12 off 11 balls. Just put your phone to rest for a while, we all love good stuff from you?

— Jagan Santhanam (@jagansanthanam) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

SRH playing in a T20 competition Sir. Not a 50 overs one.
Chasing a modest total on a helpful deck with Manish Pandey firing from the other end doesn’t happen every day to play a run a ball innings and end up on the winning side.

— ??? (@KDRtweets) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

One performance and the verdict is out…

— Raktim (@stayingwired) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Harsha u forgot to mention number 4 as a “test player”

— SaSha (@SaSha04776298) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Shankar got runs because of Pandey’s strike rate which didn’t put any pressure on him.
And was lucky to get Buttler while bowling.

Can’t be trusted, he is Unadkat of SRH and will cost them big someday.

— China Gandu (@Hypocrite_Aadmi) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Everyday one or another player performs but the main problem is consistency and Shankar doesn’t have at all. You cannot judge player based on one performance.Look at Sanju, how careless he is. Even Pant.Young generation has to be in discipline.

— Sunil Bhaker (@sunilbhaker) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Later, Harsha Bhogle had to come out himself and issue a couple of clarifications that he was not backing Shankar to play for India but rather, meant that he was happy to see an Indian player taking up the responsibility to win the game for his franchise in the IPL.

Haha, saw some responses. Maybe I should have said “being an India player”. But it is obvious, isn’t it! h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->z<!---->f<!---->0<!---->2<!---->A<!---->8<!---->O<!---->V<!---->P<!---->H

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Okay, let me make this even clearer! If you have been an India player, you must take responsibility within your franchise team and that is why Vijay Shankar had to bat at no 4 for @<!---->s<!---->u<!---->n<!---->r<!---->i<!---->s<!---->e<!---->r<!---->s. Good night everyone. Cheers. h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->C<!---->A<!---->h<!---->B<!---->9<!---->E<!---->Z<!---->i<!---->X<!---->e

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) O<!---->c<!---->t<!---->o<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->2<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

SRH have now gone on the fifth spot after this win over RR and they will now definitely eye for the playoff spot as IPL 2020 approaches its last couple of weeks.