Sri Lankan cricket star Bhanuka Rajapaksa has made some fascinating comments about the bats used by Indian cricketers. He made controversial remarks during an interview with Hari TV. He said that the bats used by Indian cricketers are not something that every cricketer can bring.

Later, as his comments gained traction on social media platforms and among cricket fans, the cricketer explained that his comments were mistranslated as he said they were meant to point out India’s advanced cricket facilities.

India breaking cricket rules?

During the conversation, Rajapaksa said that when he was in India, he encountered some Indian bats. He is part of Punjab Kings and plays in IPL 2022 and IPL 2023 seasons. During this period, he got the opportunity to follow Indian cricket closely. He also caught some Indian bats.

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The 34-year-old feels that the bats used by Indian cricketers appear to have an extra layer of rubber. He made this remark to explain how Indian batsmen can hit brilliant shots with such ease. It makes sense that this ‘rubber layer’ comment didn’t go down well on the internet during the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Some cricket fans may think that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has accused India of tampering with the bat or violating the rules of cricket.

What did Banuka Rajapaksa say?

“The Indian players’ bats are much better than our best bats. It feels like it’s been coated with rubber. I can’t imagine how that’s possible. These bats can’t even be bought by other people – all the players know that,” Rajapaksa said.

Furthermore, he said that what he said was not a secret; everyone knew about it. “This may sound stupid, but that’s how I really feel,” he added.

It was later reported that Bhanuka Rajapaksa clarified his remarks. He claims this may have been due to translation; his comments were misunderstood. Bhanuka Rajapaksa said in the classification that he wanted to praise the high standards of Indian cricket such as infrastructure, equipment standards and systems. He also said that Indian bat manufacturers are the best in the world.

According to a newswire report, Banuka Rajapaksa said in a clarification, “Rajapaksa said Indian cricket was ‘extremely advanced’, referring to its systems, infrastructure and equipment standards, and called Indian bat manufacturers the best in the world. He added that with hindsight, he could have provided clearer context and stressed that his comments were made out of respect.”

Rajapaksa has played 45 T20 matches for Sri Lanka but was not named in the T20 World Cup squad. Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the ongoing ICC T20 World Conference 2026, started their campaign with a win in his absence. After their victory over Ireland, Sri Lanka will next play Oman on February 12.

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