Punjab Kings fast bowler Arshdeep Singh found himself at the centre of controversy after a comment directed at Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma ahead of their IPL 2026 match in Dharamshala on Thursday drew criticism on social media.
Before the game, the two players were involved in a playful exchange during practice sessions. However, a remark made by Arshdeep did not go down well with many fans online. The PBKS seamer was heard jokingly calling Tilak “Oi andhere,” a comment that several users considered inappropriate and insensitive.
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Soon after the clip surfaced online, social media users reacted strongly. Many felt the joke crossed the line and pointed to Tilak Varma’s reaction in the video, claiming he appeared uncomfortable. Some users accused Arshdeep of making remarks that could be interpreted as mocking someone’s skin tone under the guise of humour.
A few fans also highlighted that this was not the first time Arshdeep had made such comments towards Tilak. Others said that cricketers representing India should be more careful with their words and behaviour, especially in public settings where videos spread quickly online. Another section of users warned that such moments can easily turn into major controversies on social media if not handled responsibly.
Despite the online debate, the focus later shifted to the match itself. Punjab Kings posted a strong total of 201 runs against Mumbai Indians. Prabhsimran Singh starred with a half-century, while Azmatullah Omarzai provided late fireworks with a quick cameo. Contributions from the lower order also helped PBKS cross the 200-run mark. For Mumbai Indians, Shardul Thakur was the standout bowler with an impressive four-wicket haul.
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