Fox Sports commentator Isa Guha under fire for racially sensitive comment about Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah

Fox Sports commentator Isa Guha has found herself under the microscope after passing a strange comment on Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah during Day 2 of the third Test against Australia at the Gabba.

Describing the impact of Bumrah, who has been clearly the player of the series to this point, Guha made the eyebrow-raising decision to call him a “primate”.

During the first session of the day’s play on Sunday, Guha’s co-commentator Brett Lee was heaping praise on Bumrah, who had already taken two wickets for the day.

“Bumrah, today: five overs, 2-4. So, that’s the tone, and that’s what you want from the ex-skipper,” Lee said.

To which Guha added: “Well, he’s the MVP, isn’t he? Most valuable primate, Jasprit Bumrah.

“He is the one that’s going to do all the talking for India, and why so much focus was on him in the build-up to this Test match, and whether he would be fit.”

“Primate” would be a strange thing to call a cricketer at the best of times, but it’s particularly sensitive, given historical tension between Australia and India.

In 2008, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh became embroiled in years-long controversy for calling late Aussie allrounder Andrew Symonds a “monkey” at the SCG.

Harbhajan was suspended for three games and there was speculation India’s tour of Australia could have been in jeopardy.

Harbhajan’s ban was later rescinded, but his rift with Symonds and the Australian team remained.

The pair eventually shook hands when they shared a dressing room in the IPL in 2011, but Symonds often explained how deeply the comment hurt him, saying his life spiraled as a result of it.

So, it’s no surprise that cricket fans’ ears pricked up when they heard the way Guha describe Bumrah.

“Did Isa Guha just call Bumrah the most valuable primate? Or am I hearing things?” Paddy said on X.

“Calling Jasprit Bumrah the MVP but then breaking it down to a ‘Most Valuable Primate’ a few minutes ago was something else,” someone else added.

Matt Krawczyk said: “Isa Guha is getting cancelled. She just called Bumrah the MVP, ‘most valuable primate’.”

A fourth said: “Monkeygate! Isa just called bumrah a primate.”