New Delhi: Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh has landed in controversy after a viral social media video allegedly showed him making a racially insensitive remark towards Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between PBKS and MI in Dharamsala.
The controversy erupted after a Snapchat clip, reportedly shared by Arshdeep, began circulating online on Thursday night. In the video, the left-arm pacer was allegedly heard referring to Tilak using the word “andhere” while joking about sunscreen. The clip quickly triggered criticism on social media, with many users accusing the Indian pacer of making a racist comment.
The issue gained further attention after former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan publicly criticised the remark and called for strict action from the BCCI. Reacting to the viral clip, Sivaramakrishnan reportedly said modern cricket is “a profession” and such behaviour should not be dismissed as harmless dressing-room banter.
While neither Arshdeep Singh nor the BCCI had issued an official statement till the filing of this report, the controversy dominated discussions online even as Mumbai Indians defeated Punjab Kings in a high-scoring IPL encounter. Tilak Varma starred in MI’s successful chase with an unbeaten 75-run knock, helping his side secure a crucial victory.
The incident has once again sparked debate around colour-based remarks in Indian cricket and the responsibility of high-profile players on social media platforms. Several fans and former cricketers argued that jokes linked to skin tone should not be normalised in professional sport.