A controversy has emerged regarding the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) acquisition of Bangladeshi player Rahman for ₹9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. This has sparked a nationalistic backlash, with some politicians alleging persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and criticizing KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan for investing in a player from a country perceived as working against India. Calls have been made for Khan to remove the player from the team to protect national interests and avoid potential public anger.