Isa Guha’s ‘primate’ remark about Bumrah triggers outrage, drawing parallels to ‘MonkeyGate’

A simple comment, a split-second reaction, but it’s sparked a major controversy. Isa Guha, the former England cricketer, found herself at the centre of a storm after making a racially insensitive remark about India’s pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, during the commentary on Day 2 of the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba. The comment has since stoked a fierce debate on social media, with many questioning its racial undertones.

It all started in the early moments of the second day when Bumrah was in top form, taking two key wickets – Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney. As Bumrah’s pace unsettled the Australian batsmen, former Australian pacer Brett Lee, who was commentating for Fox Cricket, couldn’t help but praise his efforts. “Bumrah, today: five overs, 2-4. So, that's the tone, and that's what you want from the ex-skipper," Lee said, highlighting the bowler's impact early on.

But then came Guha’s response, one that would quickly stir controversy. With a tone of casual praise, Guha referred to Bumrah as the “Most Valuable Primate,” saying, “Well, he's the MVP, isn't he? Most valuable primate, Jasprit Bumrah.” The comment immediately raised eyebrows, not just for its tone, but for its possible racial undertones.

A reminder of the past

Her remark was quickly compared to the infamous ‘MonkeyGate’ incident from 2008, when Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh was accused by Andrew Symonds of calling him a monkey. The term, associated with racial slurs, struck a sensitive chord with fans and commentators alike, drawing a line to one of cricket’s most remembered controversies.