Dharamshala, May 15: Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh has found himself in the spotlight after a video featuring him alongside Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir went viral on social media, triggering a wave of mixed reactions online.

The clip, reportedly recorded in a casual Snapchat interaction ahead of the PBKS vs MI clash in Dharamsala, shows Arshdeep addressing Tilak Varma with the term “Andhere,” a Hindi word meaning “Dark.” While the exchange appeared light-hearted, it quickly gained traction online, with some users interpreting the remark as having racial undertones.

In the same video, Arshdeep is also seen joking with the players, suggesting Tilak should use sunscreen. Tilak initially appears to ignore the comment but later responds humorously, saying he already applies sunscreen. The interaction continues in a playful tone, with Arshdeep referring to Naman Dhir as the “noor” (light) of Punjab while Naman is seen explaining the meaning of the word to Tilak.

Arshdeep Singh looked straight at Tilak Varma and said:

“Oye Andhere, sunscreen lagaaya?”

The pain and discomfort on Tilak’s face said it all, He was visibly hurt and NOT impressed at all.

How can a “joke” cut so deep? This wasn’t banter, it was pure racial shade 😔 pic.twitter.com/86BbYv8wI9

— PitchTalks (@ThePitchTalks) May 14, 2026

Although the moment was perceived by many as a friendly banter among cricketers who share camaraderie off the field, the clip still continued to spark criticism from a section of social media users, reigniting discussions about the boundaries of humour and sensitivity in public conversations involving athletes.

The controversy also comes at a time when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reinforced stricter guidelines for IPL players and stakeholders, covering social media conduct, off-field behaviour, guest interactions, and adherence to disciplinary protocols.

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On the cricketing front, Mumbai Indians, chasing a challenging target of 201, had the final word, defeating Punjab Kings by six wickets in a high-scoring encounter that went down to the wire in Dharamshala.

The defeat marked PBKS’ fifth consecutive loss, further complicating their playoff chances, while MI strengthened their position with a crucial away win.