Punjab Kings opener Prabhsimran Singh has come out in support of Arshdeep Singh after the India pacer came under fire for a racially insensitive comment directed at teammate Tilak Varma during the IPL. A video that went viral during IPL 2026 showed Arshdeep jokingly asking Tilak, “Oye Andhere, sunscreen lagaaya?” which drew sharp criticism from fans on social media and beyond.
While the remark sparked debate over casual racism in Indian cricket, Prabhsimran downplayed the incident and described it as harmless banter between two close friends. Having shared the dressing room with Arshdeep for several seasons at Punjab Kings, he insisted the matter should be left to the players involved rather than judged from the outside.
“It’s a bit of fun-shun,” Prabhsimran Singh told InsideSport. “They are really good friends. They can do anything with each other. It also depends on us as to how we take personal things. The two have played so much cricket together, so people should leave the matter to them.”
ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana Earns Place In TIME’s 100 Most Influential People In Sports 2026
The incident also drew attention to Arshdeep Singh’s active social media presence, which has often made him one of the more visible Indian cricketers online. But the timing of the viral clip came at a sensitive moment, with the BCCI already tightening its stance on players’ personal social media activity. Reports suggested the board had imposed restrictions on public posts through team managers, reflecting growing concern over off-field distractions.
Prabhsimran was also asked whether the controversy had affected Arshdeep’s form, particularly after a relatively ordinary IPL 2025 campaign. The PBKS batter defended his teammate strongly, saying Arshdeep’s personality remains unchanged through good and bad phases alike.
ALSO READ: ‘I Knew the Result Before the Match’: Nasser Hussain On India’s Dominance Over Pakistan
“His character is like that — he remains the same way in both highs and lows. That’s a very good thing about him. Everyone knows how hard-working he is,” Prabhsimran Singh said. “Now it’ll be wrong if you judge his cricket performances because of his life incidents.”
Prabhsimran’s comments have added another layer to a debate that sits at the intersection of friendship, accountability and cricket’s growing social media spotlight.
