Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh may have found himself at the center of chatter on social media after his remarks about Tilak Varma in a viral video, but the outside noise had little effect on him, according to Head of Sports Science Andrew Leipus.
Ahead of the crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Leipus said the left-handed seamer remained calm, consistent and mentally unbalanced despite online criticism.
“As far as his demeanour, Arsh’s (Arshdeep) is basically level,” Leipus told reporters ahead of Punjab Kings’ all-important clash against RCB in Dharamshala. “He’s not up or down. He’s playing his best. He’s been feeling a lot better physically the last couple of weeks. So overall he’s been pretty consistent with his demeanor and his approach.”
Arshdeep Singh made racist comments on Tilak Varma.
Arshdeep called Tilaka “andhera” (darkness) and compared his skin tone to that of Naman Dhir.
Tilak Varma responded maturely and said, “I will not support it. Let’s concentrate on tomorrow’s match.” pic.twitter.com/VPX9hkg6nP— EpicCommentsTelugu (@EpicCmntsTelugu) May 14, 2026
The Indian fast bowler, widely regarded among fans as one of the most popular young cricketers for his candid vlogs and dressing room interactions, has endured a turbulent few weeks off the field. A viral video containing comments directed at Tilak Varma drew criticism online and placed Arshdeep under intense social media scrutiny.
Controversy further escalated after the screenshots his alleged response to the fan began to circulate widely online. However, despite the criticism, Arshdeep has largely stayed away from addressing the issue publicly.
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Still, according to Leipus, the pitcher’s personality and presence in the locker room remains unchanged.
“He’s a very vocal person in the dressing room, that hasn’t changed. He’s not up and down and he’s very calm,” Leipus added.
In fact, Leipus revealed that Arshdeep continues to play a leadership role in the team.
“He’s still incredibly confident and positive, leading from the front on and off the field. He’s a very social guy, he’s no different than anyone else. He’s in the mix, he’s at breakfast with everybody,” Leipus said. “So from that point of view, they keep under wraps any anxieties that might develop when the pressure is on, which is fantastic. We’ve got a pretty young squad and hopefully they’ll pick up on those vibes and stay calm. That calmness at the top and the lack of fluctuation in behavior is very positive.”
Punjab Kings will be hoping Arshdeep’s form with the ball continues though the team fights collectively and ultimately helps them seal a playoff spot. The left-arm pacer is currently the franchise’s leading wicket-taker this season with 13 wickets at an average of 34.30.
However, Punjab Kings endured a dramatic dip in form and suffered five consecutive defeats after a dream start to the campaign. The franchise still has two matches remaining, including the clash with RCB on May 17, as they fight for a place in the playoffs.
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Published on:
May 16, 2026 5:46 PM IST
