Punjab Kings owner Preity Zinta and the franchise issued a terse statement on Tuesday, May 12, amid social media scrutiny surrounding the team and its players. While not addressing any of the rumours, Zinta and PBKS urged people to refrain from spreading false stories about the franchise and its stars. Punjab have had a dream start to the 2026 campaign, going unbeaten in their first seven matches, winning six of them. This included breaking their own record the most successful chase in IPL history.
But in the past few weeks, the team’s performance has plummeted as they lost four games on the bounce and slipped out of the top two. Along with the on-field struggle, PBKS courted controversy Yuzvendra Chahal’s alleged vaping incident. At the same time, there are discussions on social media about Prabhsimran Singh’s fitness and reported weight gain, along with comments about the general attitude of the players.
During the chaos, both Zinta and PBKS decided to draw a line, urging people not to comment without checking the facts first. The PBKS owner said that while she welcomes healthy debate, false narratives designed to damage the players and the reputation of the franchise will not be taken lightly.
“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,” Zinta said on X.
In a statement, PBKS echoed the same sentiment and asked people not to drag the team into the mud for attention or traction.
“Criticism, banter and opinions are part of sports. Fake stories and fabricated narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone to check the facts before spreading misinformation for attention or attention,” PBKS said on X.
Despite their poor form, PBKS remain in playoff contention this season. They next face MI on Thursday, May 14 in Dharamshala.
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Published on:
13 May 2026 08:31 IST
