Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Bangar found himself at the centre of a significant controversy after declaring Hindi as the 'national language of India' during a live commentary session for the 1st One Day International between India and New Zealand. The incident unfolded during the match in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The discussion began when fellow commentator Varun Aaron suggested that wicketkeeper KL Rahul should communicate with bowler Washington Sundar, who hails from Tamil Nadu, in Tamil, implying Sundar might better understand instructions in his regional language. Bangar, disagreeing with Aaron, then stated his belief in the 'national language' and specifically referred to Hindi as such. This assertion quickly triggered a strong backlash across social media platforms. Numerous users criticized Bangar, pointing out the factual inaccuracy of his statement. It is widely established and legally recognized that while Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, is an official language of the Union of India alongside English, the Constitution of India does not designate any language as the 'national language'. The Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages, acknowledging India's rich linguistic diversity. The controversy highlighted the sensitive and often politically charged nature of language identity in India, particularly the ongoing debate between Hindi and regional languages. Despite the on-air exchange, fellow commentator Jatin Sapru reportedly intervened to steer the conversation back to the game. The Times of India's headline accurately captures the essence of the event: Bangar's controversial statement and the subsequent public reaction, which multiple credible sources corroborate.