Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh has once again found himself under the spotlight after a screenshot of his alleged response to a fan began circulating widely on social media. The exchange quickly triggered strong reactions online, with fans divided over the Indian speedster’s response. The controversy arises during a tense phase of IPL 2026, where player interactions off the field are increasingly drawing as much attention as performances on it.
Arshdeep Singh’s response triggers backlash
The issue reportedly began after a fan took a dig at Arshdeep regarding Punjab Kings and the franchise’s performances in the ongoing season. The left-arm pacer responded sharply, and the screenshot of the conversation soon spread rapidly across multiple platforms. While some fans defended Arshdeep and pointed out the constant trolling players face online, many others criticised the tone of the response, calling it unnecessary and unprofessional.
Previous controversy involving Tilak Varma resurfaces
The latest backlash comes only a day after Arshdeep attracted criticism for referring to Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma with a controversial nickname during a casual video interaction ahead of the Punjab Kings’ clash against the Mumbai Indians. Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan reacted strongly to the episode and demanded strict action against the pacer.
He even suggested that the Indian cricket board should suspend Arshdeep for the remainder of the season and impose financial penalties. The incident divided opinion online, with some believing the comments were harmless banter between players, while others felt such language should not be normalised in professional sport.
In recent months, Arshdeep’s active presence on social media has repeatedly attracted attention. Reports had earlier suggested that the cricket board was unhappy with players recording and uploading behind-the-scenes content during tournaments and travel schedules. Despite being one of India’s most successful T20I bowlers in recent years, the left-arm pacer has increasingly become a talking point for off-field matters as much as his performances on the field.
