Reportedly,Punjab Kings (PBKS) and co-owner Preity Zinta have strongly addressed the proliferation of fake stories and unverified rumours circulating amidst the IPL 2026 season. The franchise, which was a witness to a strong start followed by a four-match losing streak, issued a stern warning against “calculated misinformation” and “made-up narratives” on social media.
PBKS stated that while criticism is part of the sport, deliberate false stories aimed at causing reputational damage will not be taken lightly.
The franchise initially posted a stronger statement that explicitly called out “sports journalists” for creating fake stories for “attention or traction”.
The post was later edited to remove the specific reference to “sports journalists,” likely to avoid further social media controversy.
Preity Zinta, who has been proactive in the past regarding misinformation, emphasized on social media that “there’s a difference between criticism & calculated misinformation,” advising that people should not take the “deliberate spread of fake narratives to damage individuals, the team, or the brand” lightly.
The backlash comes amid a tough phase for the team, as they slipped to fourth place after losing four straight matches.The team, which has 13 points, remains in the playoff race but needs to win its remaining matches, starting with a critical upcoming game against Mumbai Indians. Fans were urged to trust only official, verified information during this phase.
News Edit KV Raman
