Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), despite its status as world’s wealthiest sporting body, finds itself at the center of a social media storm.
The catalyst? A viral image of young all-rounder Ayush Badoni donning the prestigious Team India jersey for the first time, set against a backdrop that many fans described as “unprofessional” and “disrespectful.”
The Viral Image
Ayush Badoni, Lucknow Super Giants sensation, received a dream call-up to the national squad midway through the January 2026 ODI series against New Zealand, replacing the injured Washington Sundar.
While the moment should have been a celebration of his hard work, the official “jersey reveal” photo shared online quickly turned into a meme fest.
Instead of the high-gloss, sleek studio environments usually associated with international sports, the picture showed Badoni posing against a cluttered, poorly maintained wall.
Fans were quick to spot dark patches and discoloration that many jokingly attributed to “gutkha stains,” a common sight in public spaces in certain Indian cities.
Fans Troll BCCI
Trolls immediately began questioning if the shoot took place in Kanpur, a city often teased in internet culture for ‘Gutkha Stained’ walls.
The contrast between the iconic blue jersey and the “shabby” background triggered a wave of criticism directed at the BCCI’s media and production team.
was it shot in kanpur?
— Alyasa Haider Khan (@alyasaonchain) January 15, 2026
Background features a tactile, textured surface, with pan stains that add a unique, unrepeatable character.
— Sunderdeep – Volklub (@volklub) January 15, 2026
Looks like he’s in a Vimal ad
— Darshan Gajara (@WeirdoWizard) January 15, 2026
I see vimal more than anything else
— Guts (@TheUncertifiedX) January 15, 2026
Those paan stains 🤮
— Not So Political (@ntsopolitical) January 15, 2026
BCCI vimal sponsorship on wall
— ਸੰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੱਗੂ 🔴🔥sandeep (@im_sunnysaggu) January 15, 2026
More to follow…
