New Delhi: Shresta Iyer, the sister of Punjab Kings captain and India ODI vice-skipper Shreyas Iyer, has removed a viral video from her social media account after saying she began receiving threatening messages. She insisted the post was intended as “light-hearted banter,” but claimed it was interpreted in a far more serious way by some viewers.
The episode began after Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens was abandoned because of rain. The game was washed out early, and in the aftermath Shresta uploaded a clip on Instagram that joked her brother’s side had “gifted” a point to KKR.
In the video, which has since been deleted, she said: “Saade Punjabiyan da dil vadda hunda ae. Lo, ditta ek point (We Punjabis have a big heart. So, we gave you a point).” The remark quickly spread online and triggered mixed reactions, eventually escalating into a wave of hostile responses.
On Thursday, Shresta said she had taken down the content, pointing to the kind of messages she received. She wrote on Instagram that she decided to remove the clip because it appeared to be misunderstood by some. While she maintained it was meant as playful banter, she said she respected that not everyone viewed it the same way. She also added that it had become upsetting for her to receive not only negativity but also a few threat messages related to the post.
Shresta clarified that deleting the video was not a confession of any wrongdoing. She said she was not taking it down because she believed she had done something wrong, but because she wanted to show respect to her brother and his team and did not want the situation to turn into a space filled with negativity. She urged people to be “kinder and more understanding,” emphasizing that the intent had not been malicious.
Before the final decision, Shresta had already responded to the backlash, insisting her comment was not directed at Kolkata Knight Riders. She argued that the reaction was unfair and noted that it was “just a game,” adding that the videos were meant for fun and that she was posting to back her brother. She also said she would continue to do so, while stating there was “no hate” toward any team.
In her earlier message, she also said she understood aggression but insisted she was not “trolling anybody.” She described the post as a celebration, adding that there were no personal attacks and calling for peace.
Meanwhile, the rain-affected match at Eden Gardens ended with play called off after only 3.4 overs, with both teams sharing the points after the washout.
