Punjab Kings assistant bowling coach Trevor Gonsalves has made it clear that the franchise remains locked in cricket despite the growing chatter and criticism surrounding the team on social media during the tense phase of IPL 2026. Punjab Kings, who finished second last season, recently found themselves at the center of online discussions due to the off-field behavior of some of their players. However, ahead of the side’s crucial clash against Mumbai Indians, Gonsalves insisted that the dressing room will only focus on performances and preparation.
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Punjab Kings coach Sairaj Bahutule explains what went wrong against Delhi Capitals 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, social media plays a big role today (and) the news (in the media) plays a big role. How the big players deal with all these things is absolutely important,” Gonsalves said when asked how the team handles social media discussions and criticism of the team. Gonsalves added that senior players do not need advice on handling criticism or online backlash, and said the team is mature enough to handle such situations on their own. “You don’t need anybody 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 interested in the cricket part,” he told reporters on the eve of MI’s match against Punjab Kings. He also pointed to the unpredictability of online conversations and misinformation, where opinions spread quickly regardless of facts. “Any blogger or anybody can go and put anything on social media and there are thousands of people who agree with it and say yes or no.” “But to be honest, we are not too concerned with what the social media is saying. Right now, at the moment, we are only concerned about tomorrow’s match (and) how we are progressing in the cricket 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.
Contribution of the Punjab Kings
“Criticism, banter and opinions are part of sports. Fake stories and made-up stories for cheap engagements are not. We urge everyone to check the facts before spreading misinformation for attention or attention,” the franchise posted. Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta also commented on the growing online stories surrounding the team and called for more responsibility in sharing information publicly.
Posted by Preity Zinta
“There is a difference between criticism and calculated misinformation. Healthy debate about the game is welcome, but the deliberate spreading of false narratives to harm an individual, team or brand should not and will not be taken lightly. I urge everyone, including verified voices and media professionals, to take responsibility before amplifying unverified information. Thank you,” she tweeted. The Punjab Kings’ announcement comes during a difficult phase of their campaign. The franchise has enjoyed a dream start to IPL 2026, remaining unbeaten in their opening seven matches with six wins, while one match ended in no result due to rain. Their aggressive approach and consistency quickly made them one of the tournament’s strongest sides. However, the momentum has shifted sharply in recent weeks. Four straight defeats have hampered Punjab’s play-off hopes and increased the pressure heading into the final leg of the league stage. At the same time, the franchise also deals with attention off the field. Star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recently became an online topic after a video purportedly showing him vaping during a flight surfaced on 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 playoffs. They are currently fourth in the table with 13 points and a win in their next two games would ensure they qualify for the play-offs for the second consecutive season. With crucial matches against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants yet to come, Punjab Kings now enter the defining phase of their IPL 2026 campaign on and off the field.
