Team India awaits decision on Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul situation

With less than 24 hours left for the first ODI between India and Australia, the Indian team management is still unsure about the availability of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and batsman KL Rahul as there were reports that the duo could be suspended for their actions on the reality show Koffee With Karan.

"From the combination and team balance point of view, yes, you'll have to think about the combination you'll need now. You don't have control over these things so you have to address it the way it unfolds. That's how we are looking at it, the combinations will have to be looked at when the decision comes out and from there on we'll see what needs to be done about the whole situation," Kohli added.

Kohli also said that what happened in the show was not acceptable and individual opinions are not the view of the India team.

"From the Indian cricket team point of view, any inappropriate comments that are made in that scenario are something that we definitely don't support and the two concerned players felt what has gone wrong and they have understood the magnitude of what's happened. Definitely, it has to hit anyone hard, they will definitely understand the things that have not gone right," he added.

The background

In the recent episode of Koffee With Karan, Indian cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were the guests and for his actions on the show, Hardik has been getting a lot of flak on social media for his 'misogynist', 'sexist', and 'racist' comments.

Though Hardik apologized for his comments, he could be facing a suspension along with Rahul, who accompanied to the show.

BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry has called for a harsher penalty than the two-match suspension initially proposed by CoA member Vinod Rai.

According to a letter which is doing the rounds, Chaudhry wrote, "As far as the quantum of the punishment is concerned if the players are found guilty as per the procedures laid down in the Rules and Regulations, keeping in view the above factors and discussions, a two-match suspension seems to be merely a stop-gap arrangement especially considering that the CoA had banned Mr. Smith and Mr. Warner for a season."

He added, "The players must be immediately suspended pending a proper inquiry and must be allowed to join the team (if selected) only once they have gone through a proper sensitisation in addition to serving a ban, if imposed upon them. In any case, the entire team and support staff must go through a sensitisation process. The CEO may join them in the sensitisation as well as recommended by Ms. Veena Gowda, Advocate."