Rajapaksa had hinted that Indian batters used specially made bats with rubber coating on them.
Rajapaksa was talking about why and how the Indian batters had changed the course of hitting big shots in T20 cricket. He attributed it more to the bats that the Indians used and less to the skills that they possessed.
“Indian players have bats that are far superior to the best bats we get. It feels as though a layer of rubber has been applied. I can’t imagine how that’s possible. These bats can’t even be bought by others — all players know this,” Bhanuka Rajapaksa in an interview with Cricwire of NewsWireLK.
Former India captain Rohit Sharma laid the groundwork for India's daring white-ball cricket. They continued playing in that style in the T20 format as well, with high-risk and high-reward games. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, the two left-handed flashy openers, have been devastating for the team.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa was criticized for his comments on Indian batters’ equipment and an alleged hint at ‘bat tampering’.
And now, Bhanuka Rajapaksa himself shared a post on his comments and clarified that his words were lost in translation. He stated that he was praising the Indian batters, including the bats they used.
“Hi all, just a quick clarification about comments from a recent interview that have been interpreted differently and, in parts, lost in translation. My point was meant as praise: Indian cricket is incredibly advanced, from its systems and infrastructure to its equipment standards. Their bat manufacturers are truly among the best in the world. In hindsight, I could have provided clearer context. Nothing but respect always," Rajapaksa posted on X.