Bangar's Hindi 'National Language' Remark Ignites Firestorm

Sanjay Bangar's incorrect claim about Hindi being India's national language during an India-NZ ODI sparks debate. Read more about the controversy and match details.

A recent India versus New Zealand ODI on January 12, 2026, was overshadowed by a controversial commentary remark. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, while on Hindi commentary duty, incorrectly stated that Hindi is the national language of India, prompting widespread backlash on social media. This factual inaccuracy highlighted that Hindi is one of India's official languages, not its national one.

The match proceeded despite the off-field debate. New Zealand batted first after India won the toss and chose to bowl. The visiting team posted a formidable score of 300 for 8. Key contributions came from Daryl Mitchell, who scored an aggressive 84, and the opening pair of Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62).

India's bowlers managed to take wickets at intervals, with Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna each securing two wickets. The opening partnership was broken by Rana, who dismissed Nicholls and then Conway. Despite these efforts, New Zealand set a competitive target. The ODI series is a precursor to upcoming T20 matches leading into the T20 World Cup.

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