Kamal Ghorui
Punjab Kings opener Prabhsimran Singh appeared to respond to the growing criticism on social media following PBKS’ poor run of form in IPL 2026, backing the stance recently taken by franchise co-owner Preity Zinta and the team management against misinformation and fake narratives online.Punjab Kings have endured a dramatic mid-season collapse after enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak that included six wins and one no-result. The side has now suffered four consecutive defeats, putting their playoff hopes under pressure and attracting heavy scrutiny online.
The 25-year-old batter, who has been one of PBKS’ key performers over the past few seasons, posted an Instagram story seemingly aimed at shutting down criticism surrounding his fitness and form. The post featured a picture displaying his physique along with a “shushing” emoji, a move many fans interpreted as a direct response to the narratives circulating on social media.Earlier, Preity Zinta strongly criticised the spread of “fake narratives” surrounding the team and urged media professionals and social media users to act responsibly before amplifying unverified reports.“There’s a difference between criticism and 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 and will not be taken lightly,” Zinta wrote on X.PBKS also issued a similar statement urging everyone to “verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction”.“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.Despite his recent dip in form, Prabhsimran remains Punjab Kings’ second-highest run-scorer this season with 382 runs in 10 innings at an average of 42.44 and a strike rate of 169.02, including four half-centuries. Only Cooper Connolly has scored more runs for PBKS this season, with 415 runs in 10 innings.Punjab Kings now face a must-win clash against Mumbai Indians in Dharamshala as they attempt to revive their campaign and remain inside the top four. With Mumbai already eliminated from playoff contention, PBKS will hope to avoid another setback in what has become a tense playoff race.
