Arshdeep Singh once again landed in controversy regarding his social media activity after a video involving Tilak Varma went viral on Thursday, May 14. Known for his unfiltered online persona, the Punjab Kings fast bowler shared a video on Snapchat in which he was seen engaging in playful banter with the Mumbai Indians batter.
In the clip, Arshdeep appears to refer to Tilak as “andhere”, which means “dark” in English. Tilak initially ignored the remark, but Arshdeep continued his banter and jokingly told him to use sunscreen. Parach also pointed to Tilak’s teammate Naman Dhir and called him a real ‘noor’ from Punjab, ‘noor’ meaning light.
PBKS vs MI, IPL 2026: Update
When Naman explained the meaning of the word to Tilak, the left-handed batsman replied that he was already applying sunscreen.
While the exchange appeared to be light-hearted banter between friends, several social media users slammed Arshdeep for what they saw as racist undertones in the comments directed at Tilak.
“Punjabi humor is effortlessly racist and dark man,” one user wrote on social media.
“That’s pathetic…how does this guy think it’s acceptable to act like this,” commented another.
ARSHDEEP SOCIAL MEDIA UNDER SCANNER
The viral clip has again highlighted the use of social media platforms by cricketers and the limits of online humor involving public figures.
Earlier this season, reports suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had issued new guidelines for all stakeholders involved in the Indian Premier League, including players, managers and support staff, regarding social media and off-field behaviour.
The advice reportedly covered areas such as interactions with guests, access to team hotels, smoking and vaping, issuance of accreditation cards and adherence to anti-corruption protocols.
Arshdeep has built a massive presence online as a content creator and vlogger, regularly posting reels and behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram, where he has amassed over six million followers.
The Punjab Kings were also reportedly expected to hold meetings with the players regarding the new guidelines and get signatures confirming that the protocols had been followed.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
14 May 2026 19:04 IST
