Arsdeep Singh (PTI photo)
New Delhi: Arsdeep Singh The Punjab Kings fast bowler faced a backlash for his scathing reply to a fan on social media, just as the storm surrounding his comments on Tilak Verma shows no signs of abating.The latest incident began after a screenshot of an alleged Snapchat exchange surfaced online. A fan had reportedly written to remove Punjab from the IPL franchise name, tagging Arsdeep, saying he was bringing shame to the name.Arsdeep retorted bluntly: “What have you done for Punjab? That you are being embarrassed, Singh Sahib? People who still ask families for chips and cold drinks, are now advising whether to use the name or not?”The response quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of criticism and reigniting debate over Pacer’s online behavior.
Fresh storm after Tilak’s remarksThe controversy came barely a day after Arshaddeep was accused of making offensive remarks towards Tilak during a video recorded during Punjab’s IPL 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians.In the viral clip, Arshad is reportedly heard saying, “Oi Andhere, put on sunscreen?” – a comment that many have interpreted as a reference to Tilak’s skin tone.The clip sparked widespread outrage, with former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan among those calling for strict action.“No one believed me. Everyone mocked and trolled me. Arshaddeep should be banned for this season and paid pro rata,” Shivaramkrishnan wrote on social media.Past comments come up again.Sivaramkrishnan said the incident brought back memories of his playing days, when he claims he faced racial taunts from teammates.He recalled an incident during India’s tour of Pakistan in the 1980s, when a teammate made fun of a birthday cake arranged by Sunil Gavaskar, saying “You ordered the right color cake. Such a dark chocolate cake for a black boy”.Arshadeep’s online activity has come under scrutiny in recent months. Reports suggest that the BCCI had earlier advised him to stop posting blogs from the team’s tours and match venues during the IPL.Now, with two controversies in as many days, the spotlight has intensified on one of India’s leading T20 bowlers. For Arsdeep, the noise off the field is getting louder – and so are the calls for action.
