Mumbai, Oct 22 : Cricketer Yuvraj Singh has said that the racial controversy surrounding the recently concluded one-day series between India and Australia was unnecessarily hyped up by the media.

"You (media) are the ones who built up the racial issue. You played up the controversy by spicing up whatever happened. Otherwise this would never have reached such a situation. You people have competition amongst yourselves. Now, when we go to Australia, obviously home support will be more. But I am against racial abuse. Every player is against it. This should not happen," said Singh.

A racism row targeting Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds has marred the recently concluded one-day series.

Cricket board brass of the two countries has condemned racism in the sport, saying there is no place for it in the game on or off the field.

Andrew Symonds was reportedly racially abused by spectators during a one-day international in Baroda last week and the Australian team, especially Symonds, was booed by spectators in the seventh and final one-day match in Mumbai on october 17.

Police in Mumbai charged four Indian cricket fans the very next day with harassment and misbehaviour. They will have to appear in a city court for making monkey gestures against Symonds.

While India lost the seven match series to Australia, they won the one-off Twenty20 international on October 20.

Yuvraj said the cricketers would take a much-needed break after playing consecutively for five months.

"We have been playing regularly for five months now, so you can say that practice is going on. But we have got a break now. We will use it well and rest up. And then, we will assemble again in Kolkata for the Guwahati match,” he said.

The team will now play with Pakistan in a five-match one-day series, starting in Guwahati on November 5. (ANI)