Punjab Kings fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has come under heavy criticism on social media after a viral video involving teammate Priyansh Arya triggered accusations of “bullying” from sections of cricket fans during the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
The clip, reportedly shared from Arshdeep's Snapchat account, was filmed inside the Punjab Kings team bus while the squad travelled through Lucknow. The video quickly spread across X and Instagram on May 22, dividing opinion within the cricket community and intensifying scrutiny around the India international's recent off-field behaviour.
In the footage, young opener Priyansh Arya is seen sitting beside spinner Harpreet Brar looking at his phone. Arshdeep, who is behind the camera, can be heard telling the youngster: “What a cutie, man! Show me your smile. Show me your teeth,” before laughing loudly.
Arshdeep Singh's Snapchat story on Priyansh Arya.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 22, 2026
- Priyansh visibly looking uncomfortable. pic.twitter.com/TJCHY32Gi5
What fuelled criticism online was Priyansh's visible discomfort during the interaction. The left-handed batter avoided eye contact with the camera, kept his head down and appeared unwilling to engage with the joke.
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However, not everyone viewed the incident negatively. A section of fans defended Arshdeep, arguing that intense teasing and roasting are common within Indian domestic cricket dressing rooms and should not be judged too harshly by outsiders viewing short clips without context.
The controversy has gained additional traction because it follows a string of recent off-field incidents involving Arshdeep during the ongoing IPL season.
Earlier this week, another clip shared by the pacer showed him referring to Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma as “Oye andhere” and questioning whether he had applied sunscreen. He then went on to compare Tilak with his teammate Naman Dhir, calling Naman the "real glow of Punjab", drawing criticism from fans who labelled the comments insensitive and colourist.
The timing of the backlash adds further pressure on Punjab Kings, who are currently enduring a poor run of form. PBKS have lost six matches in a row and now face a must-win clash against Lucknow Super Giants to keep their playoff hopes alive. Even if they win, Shreyas Iyer's side still need Rajasthan Royals to lose against Mumbai Indians in order to make the playoffs.
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