Arshdeep Singh (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh has been embroiled in controversy after he allegedly made a racial remark against Mumbai Indians batsman Tilak Varma. The incident reportedly occurred after Mumbai Indians handed Punjab Kings a six-wicket defeat in Dharamsala – PBKS’ fifth straight loss in IPL 2026.In a video that has gone viral on social media, Arshdeep can reportedly be heard saying to Tilak, “Oye Andhere, sunscreen lagaaya?” (Hey dark, did you put on sunscreen?). Former Indian spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan was among the first to react to the incident. Recalling his own experience of facing comments regarding his skin tone during his acting, Sivaramakrishnan strongly condemned the remark.After watching the video, the former Indian cricketer – who played nine Tests and 16 ODIs – called for strict action against Arshdeep and even demanded a ban.“No one believed me. Everyone mocked and trolled me. Arshdeep should be banned this season and paid pro rata. Players should be hit where it hurts the most today. I’m sure I’d be trolled again,” Sivaramakrishnan wrote on X.“I told you guys. Tilak can’t say anything now as he is at the beginning of his career. But BCCI can intervene with this evidence,” he said in another post. “If BCCI takes action, I will name the people who racially abused me if action is taken against them,” he said. Sivaramakrishnan recently claimed that some of his former India teammates referred to him as a “dark boy” because of his skin tone.According to a report in The Indian Express, Sivaramakrishnan recalled an incident from India’s tour of Pakistan when he was part of the national team.He claimed that then captain Sunil Gavaskar had ordered a cake for him.However, what should have been a celebration turned into a painful memory that still affects him. After Arshdeep’s video surfaced online, these memories reportedly came back to him.
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“Hey Sunny, you ordered the right color cake. A dark chocolate cake like that for a dark boy,” Sivaramakrishnan recalled a teammate telling Gavaskar, according to a report in The Indian Express.Sivaramakrishnan represented India from 1983 to 1987, playing nine Tests and 16 ODIs, taking a combined 41 wickets.
