Kamal Ghorui
Punjab Kings assistant bowling coach Trevor Gonsalves has made it clear that the franchise is staying locked in on cricket despite increasing chatter and criticism surrounding the team on social media during a tense phase of IPL 2026. Punjab Kings, who finished runners-up last season, have recently found themselves at the centre of online discussions because of the off-field conduct of certain players. However, ahead of the side’s important clash against Mumbai Indians, Gonsalves insisted the dressing room remains focused only on performances and preparation.
Speaking to reporters, the PBKS assistant coach acknowledged the growing influence of social media in modern cricket but stressed that experienced players understand how to deal with external noise. “Yes, today social media plays a big role (and) the news (in media) plays a big role. How the big players handle themselves against all these things is absolutely important,” Gonsalves said when asked how the team is handling the talk on social media and criticism of the squad. Gonsalves added that senior players do not need guidance on managing criticism or online reactions, saying the squad is mature enough to handle such situations on its own. “You don’t need anyone to teach them, first of all. They are big enough. They know how to control themselves. As far as we are concerned, we are more concerned about the cricketing part,” he said told reporters on the eve of MI’s contest against Punjab Kings. He also pointed towards the unpredictable nature of online conversations and misinformation, where opinions spread rapidly regardless of facts. “Any blogger or any person can go and put up anything on the social media and there are lakhs of people agreeing to it and saying yes or no.” “But, frankly speaking, we are not too concerned about what the social media says. Now, at present, we are only concerned and worried of tomorrow’s game (and) how we are moving forward in the cricketing part,” he added.Earlier, Punjab Kings issued a strong message through their official social media account, urging fans and content creators to avoid spreading unverified claims.
Punjab Kings post
“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 franchise posted. Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta also addressed the growing online narratives surrounding the team and called for greater responsibility while sharing information publicly.
Preity Zinta post
“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,” she tweeted. Punjab Kings’ statement comes during a difficult phase in their campaign. The franchise had enjoyed a dream start to IPL 2026, remaining unbeaten in their opening seven matches with six victories while one match ended without a result because of rain. Their aggressive approach and consistency quickly established them as one of the strongest sides of the tournament. However, momentum has shifted sharply in recent weeks. Four straight defeats have complicated Punjab’s playoff hopes and increased the pressure heading into the final stretch of the league stage. At the same time, the franchise has also been dealing with off-field attention. Star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recently became a talking point online after a video allegedly showing him vaping on a flight surfaced across social media platforms. Opener Prabhsimran Singh has also been part of online discussions regarding his fitness and reported weight gain. Despite the setbacks, Punjab Kings remain firmly in the playoff race. They are currently placed fourth on the table with 13 points, and victories in their next two matches would secure qualification for the playoffs for a second consecutive season. With crucial fixtures against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants still to come, Punjab Kings now enter a defining stage of their IPL 2026 campaign both on and off the field.
