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According to a video that has gone viral on social media, Arshdeep Singh can allegedly be heard making a remark toward Tilak Varma that translates to, “Hey dark-skinned one, have you applied sunscreen?” The incident has triggered widespread outrage and intense debate across cricketing circles and online platforms.
Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan was among the first prominent figures to respond to the incident. Drawing from his personal experiences of being subjected to comments on skin tone during his playing career, he strongly condemned the alleged remark and demanded strict disciplinary action against Arshdeep Singh, including a season-long ban and payment on a pro rata basis.
Sivaramakrishnan stated that players today must face consequences that directly impact them financially and professionally. He further added that he was certain he would once again face trolling for speaking out on the issue, but insisted that the matter required firm action from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
In another post, he asserted that if the governing body takes action based on the available video evidence, he would disclose names of individuals who had racially abused him during his career. He also recalled that he had previously alleged being referred to as “dark boy” by some of his former India teammates due to his skin tone.
The former spinner, who represented India in nine Test matches and sixteen One Day Internationals, also referred to an incident during India’s tour of Pakistan, where he was part of the national squad. He recounted that then captain Sunil Gavaskar had arranged a cake for him, but what was intended as a gesture of celebration became an emotionally difficult memory that continues to affect him.
The resurfacing of these experiences has been linked to renewed emotional distress following the emergence of the viral video involving Arshdeep Singh, further intensifying the controversy surrounding the incident.
The episode has added to ongoing discussions around player conduct, racial sensitivity, and disciplinary standards within professional cricket, placing pressure on cricketing authorities to respond decisively.
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