Punjab Kings on Tuesday night issued a statement on its social media handles urging people to refrain from spreading misinformation concerning the franchise and its players. The franchise after posting the statement deleted it, and reposted it again with few changes.
The Kings had a brilliant start to the season, staying unbeaten in their first seven matches with six wins, with one game washed out due to rain. But things have changed in the last few weeks. Four straight defeats have put Punjab under pressure as the race for the playoffs heats up.
Off the field too, the franchise has been in the spotlight. Star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recently became the centre of attention after a video allegedly showing him vaping on a flight went viral online. Meanwhile, there has also been chatter on social media about opener Prabhsimran Singh’s fitness and reported weight gain.
Amid all the noise surrounding the team, PBKS released a statement asking people, especially sports journalists, not to spread misinformation.
“Criticism, banter, and opinions are part of sport. Fake stories and made-up narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone, especially “sports journalists”, to verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction,” PBKS first posted this on X.
However, they deleted it and reposted it again. In the second post they had removed the “sports journalists” bit to avoid more controversy on social media.
“Criticism, banter, and opinions are part of sport. Fake stories and made-up narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone to verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction,” the new post read.
Preity Zinta, the co-owner of Punjab Kings, also reacted to the franchise’s original statement before it was later deleted.
“There’s a difference between criticism & calculated misinformation. Healthy debate around the game is welcome, but the deliberate spread of fake narratives to damage individuals, the team, or the brand should not & will not be taken lightly. I urge everyone — including verified voices & media professionals — to exercise responsibility before amplifying unverified information. Thank you,” Zinta wrote on X.
Meanwhile, PBKS are currently fourth on the points table with 13 points and are still in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs. If they win their next two matches, they will secure a playoff spot for the second season in a row.
Punjab now enter a crucial stage of the tournament, with important matches coming up against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants, matches that could decide how their IPL 2026 season ends.
