Preity Zinta's intense chat with Shreyas Iyer goes viral as PBKS lose six in a row

Despite the beautiful mountains in the background, the mood at HPCA Stadium was heavy for the home team. Right after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) to become the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs, co-owner Preity Zinta took to the field.

After defeating Punjab by 23 runs, marking their sixth straight loss after a brilliant start to the season, Zinta was seen having a long conversation with captain Shreyas Iyer. Given the team’s massive mid-season slump, the video of the discussion quickly went viral on social media. While some fans speculated about the intensity of the talks, the interaction appeared to be a supportive moment of reassurance as the franchise faces a serious playoff crisis.

In another heartwarming clip from the ground, Zinta was also seen chasing wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma. Jitesh, who now plays for RCB, previously represented PBKS for years, so it was a nice nostalgic moment on a tough night for Punjab.

PBKS vs RCB: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

RCB secure playoff berth

Earlier in the match, RCB’s dominant batting performance helped them post a massive 222 for four. Virat Kohli (58 off 37 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (45 off 25 balls) laid a solid foundation with an authoritative partnership of 76 runs.

Then Venkatesh Iyer took over and smashed a brilliant unbeaten 73 off just 40 balls. Alongside a quick cameo from Tim David (28 off 12 balls), Venkatesh completely shifted the momentum and took the visitors past the 220 mark.

Shashank is fighting alone for Punjab

Honza 223, Punjab Kings got off to a tough start when Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed opener Priyansh Arya in the first over. RCB’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding kept the pressure high, causing skipper Shreyas Iyer to fall in the Powerplay.

While Cooper Connolly (37) and Suryansh Shedge (35) tried to counter-attack, it was Shashank Singh who kept Punjab alive. Shashank smashed a brave 56 off 27 balls, including three huge sixes in the over off Suyash Sharma, fighting his way to the final.

With 33 runs needed from the last six balls, Shashank’s lone battle was finally over as PBKS were bundled out at 199 for eight. The result will seal RCB’s official entry into the playoffswhile Punjab need to find quick answers to salvage the remaining season.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

May 18, 2026 10:07 AM IST