New Delhi: India pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh sparked a wave of online chatter after making a sudden change to his Instagram presence. The Punjab Kings fast bowler reportedly removed more than 200 posts from his account and also updated his profile picture, prompting fans to wonder what triggered the drastic cleanup. One item that particularly caught attention was his widely shared Champions Trophy 2025 reel featuring Virat Kohli, which had already surpassed 150 million views before it disappeared from his feed.
Arshdeep has not offered any explanation for the abrupt move, leaving room for speculation. Social media users have debated whether it was a personal reset, a broader attempt to tidy up his online footprint, or a deliberate rebranding effort. While the changes were significant, it was not a complete removal of Punjab Kings-related material—PBKS remains referenced in his bio.
With many posts gone, what remains on his profile is largely personal and professional in nature. The surviving content includes family photographs, cricket milestones, and promotional material for brands.
IPL 2026 controversies in focus
- Concerns around Arshdeep’s conduct have been a recurring talking point during IPL 2026, with multiple incidents drawing heavy attention online.
- Earlier in the season, he faced criticism over an alleged racial remark directed at teammate Tilak Varma ahead of Punjab Kings’ match against Mumbai Indians.
- The comment, as it was circulated, was reported as: “Oye Andhere, sunscreen lagaaya?” (“Hey, dark one, did you apply sunscreen?”), which triggered backlash across social platforms.
- Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan reacted sharply to the controversy, stating: “Nobody believed me. Everyone mocked and trolled me. Arshdeep should be banned this season and should be paid on a pro rata basis. The players today should be hit where it hurts the most.”
- Sivaramakrishnan added, “If BCCI takes action, I will name people who racially abused me.”
- Arshdeep was later linked to another controversy after an angry response to a fan on Snapchat following Punjab Kings’ defeat to Mumbai Indians.
- A separate viral Snapchat incident involving teammate Priyansh Arya also drew criticism from sections of fans.
On-field output underwhelms
Beyond the off-field noise, Arshdeep’s IPL 2026 campaign has not met expectations. In the tournament so far, he picked up only 14 wickets in 14 matches, while his bowling economy has been running above 10—an area that has left him under pressure in match situations.
