A six-game skid ensured Punjab Kings never truly controlled their own destiny in IPL 2026. The franchise managed to halt the slide in their last league fixture of the season, with captain Shreyas Iyer delivering a breathtaking century, yet the result still wasn’t enough to keep them in contention. On the final day of the league phase, the Rajasthan Royals beat the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, knocking PBKS out of the playoffs. A year after reaching the final for the first time in nine years, Punjab ended up fifth in the standings—one point shy—despite posting a better net run rate than the Royals, who secured the last playoff spot.
During that stretch of defeats, Shreyas’ sister, Shresta, became the subject of relentless online trolling linked to a viral clip featuring the phrase “ditta ek point.” The clip had first been shared earlier in the season during Punjab’s six-match winning run. It emerged after PBKS’s clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders, a game that was washed out by rain while the KKR side were struggling through their own losing spell, leaving both teams to split the points.
The video didn’t go down well even among parts of the PBKS fanbase, and Shresta found the same remark resurfacing repeatedly as Punjab’s form deteriorated in the second half of their campaign. As the team slipped toward elimination, the trolling intensified and broadened into harsher online abuse.
Shresta’s response to the backlash
- After facing escalating criticism, Shresta uploaded a two-part video on Instagram to address the intent behind the original reel.
- In her clarification, she said the clip had been exaggerated by viewers and that the motive was simply light, playful banter rather than an attempt to mock anyone.
- She added that she did not set out to target players or spread hate, and emphasized that she respects every cricketer because her brother is one.
- Shresta also described how the harassment went beyond social media, claiming it reached her workplace and people connected with her.
- She said people had been calling her workplace, abusing her, her colleagues, her students, and even her family, along with repeated contact at random times.
- While she stated she could handle criticism directed at her personally, she drew a firm line at dragging her family and professional circle into the abuse.
- She concluded by asking that if people wanted to dislike her, they should not harass those affiliated with her, and reiterated that she would continue supporting her brother regardless of results.
In IPL 2026, KKR and PBKS delivered contrasting league campaigns, but both still ended the league phase in the lower half of the table. Punjab began their season strongly, winning six of their first seven matches. However, that momentum was followed by a six-match losing streak that exposed problems in their approach with both bat and ball, along with recurring shortcomings in the field, particularly missed chances in catching.
Punjab did manage to win their last match, but the earlier collapse still left them finishing fifth. Kolkata, meanwhile, endured a difficult start, losing five of their first six games. They then staged a turnaround by winning six of their next seven fixtures, a surge that included a Super Over triumph against the Lucknow Super Giants and briefly kept their playoff hopes alive.
Still, their campaign ended on a sour note: a loss to the Delhi Capitals in their final league outing ensured Kolkata finished seventh in the table.
