CSK & RCB fans clash again! How Harbhajan Singh's remark got 'Deshdrohi Dhoni' and 'National Shame Kohli'?trending?on?X
While the two Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have always shared immense respect and affection for each other, it seems their fans can't even stand the thought of the two being friends.
It's not uncommon for fan wars to erupt, but when it comes to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, things can get especially ugly. This time, the two major fandoms¡ªVirat Kohli's and MS Dhoni's¡ªclashed over a remark made by former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh.
While Kohli and Dhoni have always shared immense respect and affection for each other, it seems their fans can't even stand the thought of the two being friends. With things between the two fandoms already heated, Harbhajan's comment added fuel to the fire and sparked a full-blown social media war.
What exactly happened?
During a show, the veteran off-spinner claimed that only MS Dhoni has "real fans," dismissing other cricketers' followers as mere "social media or paid fans," regardless of their popularity across platforms. The remark didn't sit well with Kohli's supporters, who saw it as a dig at their idol and quickly launched an online backlash.
This is the reason I hate every fanclub. These fanclubs have destroyed cricket in India. Toxic mofos.
¡ª Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) May 18, 2025
SHAME ON DESHDROHI DHONI#NationalShameKohli pic.twitter.com/6wAi8b7b0N
Kohli's fans responded with the hashtag 'Shame on Deshdrohi Dhoni' on X (formerly Twitter), which began trending shortly after.
"He was captain of India"
¡ª G. ?? (@indiantweetrian) May 18, 2025
SHAME ON DESHDROHI DHONIpic.twitter.com/ROU36GojoZ
It didn't take long for Dhoni's supporters to strike back with their own hashtag 'National Shame Kohli¡¯. This is in reference to the unverified reports of Kohli possibly signing with English county side Middlesex. However, these claims remain unconfirmed and are likely false, as no official announcement has been made.
Even when burnol couldn't placate their jealousy against his high recds and one of the greatest sportsman India ever has produced, they're trending #NationalShameKohli blaming on his unconfirmed intentions to settle in England. and play for Middlesex #Cricket #nationalpridekohli pic.twitter.com/SFZGy8JnEI
¡ª Prashant Ranjan (@pranjan21) May 18, 2025
What's happening in the IPL 2025?
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans gathered at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17 to pay tribute to Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket. Many wore India's Test jersey with 'Kohli' on the back, honouring the Delhi-born cricketer's immense contributions to the red-ball format.
On the field, RCB currently sit at the top of the points table and are on the verge of securing a Playoff spot, with just the 'Q' left to be added next to their name. In contrast, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the first team to be officially knocked out of the IPL 2025 Playoff race after a four-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS), marking a disappointing end to MS Dhoni's campaign this season.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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