Washington Sundar faces criticism over fan interaction after Australia series

New Delhi: Washington Sundar, who made headlines with his outstanding performance in the recently concluded T20 series against Australia, is now at the center of a controversy. His excellent form earned him a place in the Indian team for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 next month. But amidst his success on the field, his behavior with fans off the field has sparked a new debate. Following a recent incident, he is facing heavy criticism on social media, and his 'attitude' is being questioned.

Crowd of Fans Outside the Hotel and Sundar's Annoyance

On Friday, January 2, 2026, a video went viral on social media showing Washington Sundar exiting a hotel. As soon as he came out, a large crowd of fans surrounded him, eager to catch a glimpse and take selfies. In the video, Sundar appeared visibly annoyed and irritated. He flatly refused to take pictures with the fans and was seen trying to avoid the crowd and heading towards his car. While players are entitled to their private time and space away from the field, his dismissive behavior disappointed the fans.

Debate Erupts on Social Media

As the video went viral, netizens on X (formerly Twitter) started targeting Sundar. Many fans compared him to legendary players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya, saying that Sundar has started considering himself even bigger than them. Some users wrote that he has become excessively arrogant, while others jokingly commented that Shubman Gill's non-selection and Sundar's selection have gone to his head. This incident has once again highlighted the conflict between the private boundaries of celebrities and the boundless expectations of fans. The challenge of salvaging his reputation before the World Cup

After a long and busy international season against West Indies, South Africa, and Australia, Sundar is currently on a short break. But this break is proving to be controversial for him. In the coming weeks, the Indian team will play a five-match T20 series against New Zealand, which is considered crucial preparation for the 2026 World Cup. It remains to be seen whether Washington Sundar can put these controversies behind him with his performance on the field. Amidst fan discontent, the coming period will be quite challenging for this Indian all-rounder.