Arshdeep Singh Faces Backlash Over Viral Tilak Varma Video
Arshdeep Singh faced fresh backlash after a video showed him teasing Tilak Varma with remarks social media users called racist. The Punjab Kings fast bowler is already under scrutiny in IPL 2026, and the clip added another flashpoint around his public behavior.
Tilak Varma Video Backlash
In the video, Singh called Varma andhere, which means dark in English, and suggested he use sunscreen. He also called Naman Dhir the real Noor from Punjab, while Dhir explained the meaning of the word to Varma. Tilak responded that he is using sunscreen.
Several users on social networking sites slammed the exchange and called the comments racist. One user wrote, “Punjabi humour is effortlessly racist and dark, man,” while another posted, “This is just pathetic... how does dude think behaving like this is acceptable?”
Arshdeep Singh Under Scrutiny
The reaction lands at a difficult point for Singh, who has over six million fans on Instagram and is known as a content creator. The same player was also seen sitting with his girlfriend in the team bus, after reports that the BCCI had asked him to stop making videos following a clip showing Yuzvendra Chahal vaping inside an airplane.
The Indian Cricket Board had also strictly instructed franchises to stop players from travelling with their girlfriends in team buses and from staying with them in dressing rooms. Punjab Kings were expected to hold a meeting with players on the new guidelines and obtain their signatures for compliance with the protocols.
Punjab Kings And IPL 2026
Singh’s on-field form is part of the scrutiny too. He has leaked runs and failed to pick up wickets on a consistent basis in the ongoing edition of the tournament, leaving the social media criticism to land on a player already under pressure for more than one reason.
For Punjab Kings, the issue now stretches beyond one viral clip. Singh’s comments, the earlier airplane video and the team-bus breach all sit against the same IPL 2026 backdrop, and the franchise’s next internal step is the compliance meeting with players.
