Why did Peddi actor Ram Charan issue a public apology to MI star Jasprit Bumrah before RR match in IPL 2026?

Why did Peddi actor Ram Charan issue a public apology to MI star Jasprit Bumrah before RR match in IPL 2026? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Ram Charan called MI pacer Jasprit Bumrah a footballer at Peddi's music launch.
• He also accidentally addressed the Bhopal crowd as people from Bihar.
• Ram later apologised to Bumrah on social media, calling it a genuine human error.

Ram Charan's double gaffe at Peddi launch sends social media into a frenzy

Within the space of one evening, Ram Charan managed to call India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah a footballer and, in a separate slip, referred to the Bhopal crowd as people from Bihar. 

The grand music launch of Ram Charan's upcoming film Peddi in Bhopal was always going to be a big occasion with AR Rahman, Janhvi Kapoor, and the rest of the cast in attendance.

What nobody expected, though, was for the Telugu superstar himself to hand the internet two moments that would dominate social media for all the wrong reasons.

MORE: MI vs RR: What Rajasthan Royals needs to finish top 4 and qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs?

When cricket went football, Bhopal became Bihar

The trouble started during a rapid-fire segment at the event where Ram Charan was asked to describe some of India's cricketing legends in just a few words. He handled most of it reasonably well as Sachin Tendulkar got "a long, legendary run," MS Dhoni was "calm and cool," Rohit Sharma was called "everybody's man," and Virat Kohli received the sharp one-word tribute "Fire." Then came Bumrah's turn, and something short-circuited.

Instead of praising Bumrah's wicket-taking brilliance, Ram declared himself a devoted fan of football and credited Bumrah with elevating the sport to great heights.

“Jasprit Bumrah ji, I am your biggest fan. I love football and football ko itne aage bada rahe ho (you are taking football to new heights). Love you, sir,” Ram said.

And within minutes, the clip was everywhere online, turning into a full-blown meme festival across social media platforms. The Bhopal-Bihar mix-up, though a smaller slip, only added to the moment's chaos.

MORE: Jaywardene provides update on Rohit Sharma's fitness

Ram Charan apologises with grace

To his credit, Ram Charan did not let the gaffes linger. He took to X fairly quickly to address what had happened, framing it as an honest mistake made in the middle of a high-energy, overwhelming evening.

“Uff… I’m genuinely so forgetful with names sometimes. Apologies to @Jaspritbumrah93 Ji for the mix-up - it was a genuine human error in the middle of all the excitement and the crowd (folded hand emoji),” Ram wrote in his tweet posted on X.

The RRR actor further said, “I truly respect you and I am a huge fan of your game. You make every Indian feel proud when you consistently put batsmen on back foot.”

Context - pic.twitter.com/yK0YIH6V7d— Film Culture (@CinemasHive) May 23, 2026

MORE: No Samson in India squad for IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 as Kishan is picked

The Cricket News Opinion: Give Ram a break

Ram Charan's error was harmless, his apology was immediate and warm, and the internet's reaction, while entertaining, was a little overblown. At least he got Kohli right.

For his part, Bumrah is unlikely to have lost much sleep over it. The pacer is set to play for Mumbai Indians on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026; cricket, not football.

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.