A new political storm has hit the Indian Premier League (IPL) following Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) high-profile signing of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, which has put franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan under immense pressure ahead of the 2026 season.
The Mustafizur Rahman saga: the signing that sparked a political controversy
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman for a whopping sum of ₹9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. It was simply a move to strengthen their bowling attack, but the recent situation of Hindus in Bangladesh is putting continued pressure on KKR and SRK.
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While Mustafizur is a proven T20 asset, the cricketer’s signing is now overshadowed by geopolitical tensions due to growing anger over repeated reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The problem now extends beyond social media anger to overt political grievances.
Political backlash and calls for a ban
Several political leaders have openly urged Shah Rukh Khan to remove the Bangladeshi pacer from the KKR team. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has asked KKR co-owner to drop Mustafizur from the side, saying the presence of a Bangladeshi player in his team could make the Bollywood superstar a direct target of public anger.
Sanjay Nirupam was quoted as saying by ANI, “When the entire country is enraged and angry with Bangladesh, anyone in India having even the slightest connection with Bangladeshis could become a target of this anger. If there is a Bangladeshi in Shah Rukh Khan’s team, before he becomes a major target, we request Shah Rukh Khan to remove the Bangladeshi from his team. This will be for his own good and will also protect the interests of India.”
The pressure further intensified when Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey called for a complete ban on Bangladeshi players in the IPL. He said foreign players from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan should not be allowed to play on Indian soil, especially at a time when emotions are running high over attacks on Hindu minorities across the border.
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Dubey said, “Bangladeshi players should not be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL… Pakistani and Bangladeshi players should be banned. They harbor hatred towards us for the murder of our Hindu brothers and sisters… Shah Rukh Khan should immediately remove this Bangladeshi cricketer from his team… If he does not do so even after all this uproar, it will prove that even though he lives in this country and earns money here, he does not understand the feelings of this nation.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s story with political controversy
In 2012, the Bollywood icon was banned from Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium for five years after an argument with security staff. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) later reduced the ban, which was lifted in 2015. A few years later, the actor revealed that he was angry because his children were present and were not treated properly, and a security guard used an offensive word against his religion, causing him to lose his cool.
And then, in 2015, SRK spoke about “growing intolerance” in India, leading to him being labeled “anti-national,” with many political leaders suggesting he “go to Pakistan.” Given these past incidents, the KKR-Rahman deal is linked to alleged anti-Indian sentiments and violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
