Indian cricketing stars Sachin Tendulkar, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan have all issued public statements on the ongoing student protests in Delhi, joining a growing list of sporting figures speaking out on the issue.
Their comments, however, have drawn sharp criticism from fans on social media, who accused them of avoiding the real issues at hand.
Tendulkar shared a statement on social media on Thursday, drawing on a lesson from his late father.
“My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, ‘Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts,'” Tendulkar wrote.
He went on to speak about the responsibility of society in shaping culture.
“As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy,” he wrote.
Tendulkar acknowledged the disappointment felt by students whose hard work had gone unrewarded.
“Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable. Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again,” he wrote.
He ended his post on a hopeful note.
“We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins. I am certain we will all find solutions that strengthen our children’s future and safeguard their aspirations. Jai Hind!”
The response online was largely critical. One user wrote, “Isse acha to tu silent hi rehta bhai. [You would have been better off staying silent, brother.]”
Another wrote, “You should do better. No criticism, no empathy. Sir, an entire generation grew up watching you.”
A third pointed to the tone of the statement, writing, “Wow, never knew Sachin can play more defensively than Dravid.”
One person wrote, “And this is how ladies and gentlemen you say a lot of words without saying anything!”
India’s ODI and Test captain also posted his thoughts on the protests through an Instagram story.
“As a young Indian, I believe our generation deserves every opportunity to learn, dream and shape the future we all aspire to,” Gill wrote.
He added that he respected the students protesting peacefully.
“I have immense respect for every young person who believes in making their voice heard peacefully,” Gill wrote.
Gill also spoke about the role of education in shaping the country’s future.
“Education has the power to shape our nation’s future. I hope we move forward with compassion, mutual respect and keeping the best interests of every student at heart. For India’s future,” he wrote.
Fans were unimpressed with Gill’s message. One user wrote, “Captaincy unlocked, and suddenly every Instagram story reads like a Ministry press release.”
Another commented, “Are kehna kya chahte ho. [What are you even trying to say.]”
One social media user dismissed the statement altogether, writing, “Same template, no emotion, no care. ‘I have immense respect…’ my foot.”
Another wrote, “Kya pure celebrity hi spineless h kyuki ek bhi tweet brutality pe nhi dekha student k against. [Are all celebrities spineless, because I haven’t seen a single tweet about the brutality against students.]”
A final comment simply read, “Clowns 🤡”
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan also shared a message on an Instagram story addressing the ongoing uncertainty faced by students.
“My thoughts are with every student and family dealing with uncertainty. Hoping things are resolved soon, and wishing everyone fairness and the opportunity to move forward,” Kishan wrote.
The protests stem from allegations of a paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam.
Demonstrations began at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 6, 2026, led by the Cockroach Janata Party, with students demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader reforms to the education system.
The protests escalated on July 20 during a march called “Sansad Chalo,” which led to a Public Interest Litigation seeking a National Investigation Agency probe into the incident, with the Delhi High Court agreeing to hear the plea. Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has since announced fast-track courts to deal with paper leak cases.
Alongside Tendulkar, Gill and Kishan, other sportsmen, including Abhinav Bindra, Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh have also issued statements urging dialogue, patience and education reform.
