Amid swirling rumours of tension between them, Kuldeep Yadav and Rinku Singh have set the record straight with a heartwarming gesture of friendship.
In a moment that has set social media ablaze, Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav was caught on live television slapping Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh not once, but twice following their IPL clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
The incident occurred moments after Delhi Capitals suffered their second consecutive home defeat, falling short by 14 runs against defending champions KKR.
In a now-viral clip, Kuldeep, Rinku, and a few other players can be seen sharing a laugh near the boundary. Out of the blue, Kuldeep playfully slapped Rinku across the face. While Rinku initially appeared surprised and slightly embarrassed, Kuldeep slapped him again -- this time triggering a visibly annoyed response from the KKR batter.
There was no audio in the clip, and commentators didn’t address the exchange during the post-match show, leaving the true context behind Kuldeep’s actions unclear. However, the incident has drawn heavy criticism online, with many fans branding it 'unacceptable' and calling it Kuldeep’s 'worst behaviour'. Some even demanded action from the BCCI, with calls for suspension surfacing on X (formerly Twitter).
Later, Kuldeep Yadav and Rinku Singh have firmly put to rest the rumours of a rift between them.
On Wednesday, KKR shared a heartwarming video on Instagram with the caption, "Media (sensationalism) vs (real friendship) Reality! Gehri dosti feat. our talented UP boys."
The video opens with Kuldeep and Rinku, arms around each other, flashing the 'Love' hand gesture and playfully asking, “Kaise hota hai?” (How do you do it?). As the iconic friendship anthem "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge" from Sholay plays in the background, the reel transitions into a montage of their old pictures, offering fans a glimpse of their long-standing camaraderie off the field.
© 2025