Punjab Kings, Zinta Warn on Social Media Misinfo

Punjab Kings and co-owner Preity Zinta issued strong warnings against social media misinformation on May 12, 2026, as the franchise grapples with a four-game losing streak in the IPL 2026 season ahead of their crucial match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

The team, runners-up in IPL 2025, began the 2026 campaign unbeaten in their first seven matches, securing six wins and one no-result to top the points table. They set a record for the highest successful chase in IPL history during that run. However, defeats against Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals have dropped them to fourth place with 13 points from 11 games.

The slump has fueled online speculation about player fitness, including reports of opener Prabhsimran Singh's weight gain, alleged dressing room unrest, and an unverified video purportedly showing spinner Yuzvendra Chahal vaping on a team flight. Punjab Kings and Zinta responded swiftly to curb what they described as fake narratives.

In a post on X, Zinta distinguished between legitimate discourse and harmful claims. "There’s a difference between criticism [and]...