Preity Zinta, Punjab Kings slam fake stories on team as social media scrutiny grows
Preity Zinta and Punjab Kings have publicly denounced the false stories circulating about the team and its players, as social media scrutiny of the franchise continues to intensify. PBKS have suffered a sharp drop in form after their latest losses in IPL 2026.
Punjab Kings owner Preity Zinta and the franchise issued a stern statement on Tuesday, May 12, amid social media scrutiny surrounding the team and its players. While they did not address any of the rumours, Zinta and PBKS urged people to refrain from spreading fake stories about the franchise and its stars. Punjab had a dream start to the 2026 campaign, remaining unbeaten in the first seven matches, winning six of them. This included breaking their own record for the highest successful chase in IPL history.
But the last few weeks have seen the team's performance take a nose-dive as they have lost four matches on the bounce and slip out of the top two. Along with the struggles on the field, PBKS courted controversy over Yuzvendra Chahal's alleged vaping incident. At the same time, there are social media discussions 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 and urged people to not make comments without verifying the facts first. The PBKS owner said that while she welcomed healthy debate, fake narratives to damage players and the franchise's reputation will not be taken lightly.
"There’s a difference between criticism & calculated misinformation. Healthy debate around the game is welcome, but the deliberate spread of fake narratives to damage individuals, the team, or the brand should not & will not be taken lightly. I urge everyone including verified voices & media professionals to exercise responsibility before amplifying unverified information. Thank you," said Zinta on X.
PBKS echoed the same sentiment in their statement, asking people not to drag the team in the mud for attention or traction.
"Criticism, banter, and opinions are part of sport. Fake stories and made-up narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone to verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction," said PBKS on X.
Despite their poor run of form, PBKS remain in contention for making it to the playoffs this season. They will next face MI on Thursday, May 14 in Dharamshala.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
Punjab Kings owner Preity Zinta and the franchise issued a stern statement on Tuesday, May 12, amid social media scrutiny surrounding the team and its players. While they did not address any of the rumours, Zinta and PBKS urged people to refrain from spreading fake stories about the franchise and its stars. Punjab had a dream start to the 2026 campaign, remaining unbeaten in the first seven matches, winning six of them. This included breaking their own record for the highest successful chase in IPL history.
But the last few weeks have seen the team's performance take a nose-dive as they have lost four matches on the bounce and slip out of the top two. Along with the struggles on the field, PBKS courted controversy over Yuzvendra Chahal's alleged vaping incident. At the same time, there are social media discussions 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 and urged people to not make comments without verifying the facts first. The PBKS owner said that while she welcomed healthy debate, fake narratives to damage players and the franchise's reputation will not be taken lightly.
"There’s a difference between criticism & calculated misinformation. Healthy debate around the game is welcome, but the deliberate spread of fake narratives to damage individuals, the team, or the brand should not & will not be taken lightly. I urge everyone including verified voices & media professionals to exercise responsibility before amplifying unverified information. Thank you," said Zinta on X.
PBKS echoed the same sentiment in their statement, asking people not to drag the team in the mud for attention or traction.
"Criticism, banter, and opinions are part of sport. Fake stories and made-up narratives for cheap engagement are not. We urge everyone to verify facts before spreading misinformation for attention or traction," said PBKS on X.
Despite their poor run of form, PBKS remain in contention for making it to the playoffs this season. They will next face MI on Thursday, May 14 in Dharamshala.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
