Ritika Sajdeh - wife of former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma - has come under fire on social media after referring to Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal as a “cartoon” during an appearance on a YouTube talk show.
The controversy erupted following a segment in which the hosts displayed photographs of various Indian cricketers, asking Ritika and Rohit to share their first impressions.
When a picture of opener Shikhar Dhawan appeared, Rohit responded with “Jatt.” However, when Yuzvendra Chahal’s photo was shown, Ritika was quick to interject, saying, “Cartoon. He’s usually like a cartoon.” Rohit remained silent during the moment.
The light-hearted exchange, intended to amuse, did not go down well with a section of cricket fans who labelled the remark as disrespectful and insensitive.
A short clip from the show was widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter), with one user commenting, “Rohit Sharma's wife called Yuzvendra Chahal a cartoon. Is this the way she respects an Indian player?” The post drew comparisons to Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, questioning the reaction had she made a similar remark.
The backlash has been swift and sharp. “Such a shame, she herself looks like a cartoon,” one user wrote, while another called the remark “horrible” and “uncalled for.” Some users demanded an apology, arguing that public figures must exercise caution in their statements, especially when speaking about fellow professionals on public platforms.
Chahal, known for his vibrant personality and jovial nature both on and off the field, has not publicly responded to the incident.
Ritika Sajdeh, a sports manager by profession, is yet to issue any statement addressing the criticism. Meanwhile, neither Rohit Sharma nor any member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has commented on the matter.
