Ajinkya Rahane Faces Heat From Cricket Fans Over ‘No Planning’ Comment on West Indies

West Indies lead Group C of the 2026 T20 World Cup with four points, followed by Scotland, Italy, and England, with two points each.

Ajinkya Rahane Faces Heat From Cricket Fans Over ‘No Planning’ Comment on West Indies

Ajinkya Rahane was slammed for stating that the West Indies T20I team lacks 'planning'. (via FirstPost)

In Short
  • Ajinkya Rahane faced backlash from West Indies fans for his comments on their team's planning.
  • West Indies secured a surprising 30-run victory over England in the T20 World Cup.
  • Rahane's remarks were perceived as derogatory, leading to accusations of racism from fans.

West Indies’ fans criticized Ajinkya Rahane after he jokingly remarked that their cricket team lacked planning. His comments came just after the Windies secured a phenomenal 30-run win over England in their second group-stage match of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The two-time T20 World Cup winners came into the tournament at the back of a dismal run in the format, having lost three T20I series in a row since late 2025. In fact, the West Indies, ranked seventh on the ICC T20 Rankings, had only secured two victories in their last 13 T20I series. Leading up to the much-awaited T20 World Cup, they suffered a 3-1 away series loss to New Zealand, followed by a 2-1 defeat to Afghanistan in the UAE, and a 2-1 loss to South Africa.

It was perceived that the Windies would not last long in the ongoing T20 WC, with stars like Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell having also retired. However, defying expectation, the West Indies got off to a flying start in their Group C opener against Scotland in Kolkata, defeating them by 35 runs. They followed it up by defeating England in Mumbai by 30 runs, courtesy strong displays from Sherfane Rutherford and Gudakesh Motie.

West Indies’ incredible display attracted a flurry of remarks, with veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane’s comment standing out. In a Cricbuzz interaction, Rahane was questioned about the team, to which he candidly replied by doubting the West Indies’ strategy effectiveness. He wittily suggested that the Windies are ‘charmers’ on the field, who keep the crowd entertained with their larger-than-life celebrations. 

I don’t think West Indians think too much about the game. They are not too much into planning… But again, I love their celebration. When they are doing really good on the field, it’s a very good sight the way they celebrate.

Although Rahane likely intended to suggest that the West Indies T20I team prefers to play instinctively rather than strictly adhere to set plans, the remark angered fans. West Indies’ cricket fans lashed out at the 37-year-old, claiming that his statements were racist and derogatory. Some fans even went on to exclaim that Rahane might have mistakenly called West Indies’ players ‘brainless’.

It also remains to be seen how the Windies fare against Nepal in their upcoming group-stage fixture. The last time these two teams faced off in a T20I, Nepal etched history by recording a 2-1 series win over their opponents in the UAE.

Fans slam Ajinkya Rahane for his ‘Ignorant’ comment on West Indies’ strategy

Fans slammed Ajinkya Rahane for his comment on West Indies’ cricketing strategy, specifically his comment that the players are ‘entertainers’. The 37-year-old commented in response to the Windies winning both their T20 World Cup fixtures so far, convincingly. 

West Indies vs. England
West Indies defeated England by 30 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

While many believed that his comment was taken out of context, his way of putting things ignited a controversy. West Indies cricket fans, in particular, took a stance against the veteran Indian batter, interpreting his comment as ‘racist’. Some others suggested that Rahane had deliberately criticized the Windies T20I team, overemphasizing upon their celebratory gestures rather than their performance.

A few fans exclaimed that such a remark was not expected from Ajinkya Rahane, who is measured with his language. One fan came forward to even label the ex-Indian captain as an ‘obnoxious loudmouth’. Another fan mentioned that the West Indies team could, in turn, defeat hosts India during the latter stages of the tournaments, and then mock them using a crossed version of Rahane’s statement. 

While the West Indies vs. England clash ended in good news for the 2016 WC winners, Harry Brook & Co. will be reassessing their approach to avoid an early elimination. England lost to West Indies by 30 runs, while having narrowly edged out against Nepal by four runs in their previous contest.

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