A video featuring Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh and Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma has gone viral on social media, sparking controversy and drawing sharp criticism from a section of users online.
In the clip, recorded ahead of Thursday’s IPL 2026 match in Dharamsala, Arshdeep is heard using a phrase while calling out to Tilak Varma “Oi, andhere" that roughly translates to “Hey, darkness”.
The remark has triggered debate online, with several users alleging that the slang carries racial undertones and calling out the fast bowler over his choice of words.
Arshdeep, who is active on social media and frequently shares behind-the-scenes content including vlogs and reels, has faced significant backlash since the video surfaced.
However, it is also known that Arshdeep and Tilak Varma share a friendly rapport off the field, often seen interacting in a light-hearted manner during matches and training sessions.
The incident came just hours before the high-voltage IPL 2026 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, which MI won by six wickets.
Tilak Varma powers MI to victory
On the field, Tilak Varma delivered a match-winning performance, scoring a blistering 75 off 33 balls to guide Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win while chasing 201.
Ryan Rickelton also provided early momentum with an aggressive 48 off 23 deliveries, as MI overhauled PBKS’ total with one ball to spare.
Punjab Kings, who posted 200/8 in their 20 overs, suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, further denting their playoff hopes as they remained stuck on 13 points, with competition tightening from Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Earlier, PBKS had a strong start with Prabhsimran Singh scoring a fluent half-century and lower-order contributions pushing them to a competitive total.
