IPL 2026: After dropping six consecutive matches, the Punjab Kings' playoff hopes slipped away. They rallied briefly as skipper Shreyas Iyer smashed a brilliant hundred during their last group stage match, but his efforts proved futile. Since the Rajasthan Royals conquered the Mumbai Indians in their last group-stage match, the Punjab-based franchise exited the tournament. After advancing to the summit clash last year following a nine-year drought, they finished fifth on the points table this year, just one point behind, despite boasting a brilliant NRR. The Rajasthan-based franchise surged into the playoffs.
During the six-match losing streak, Shreshta Iyer, the sister of Shreyas Iyer, endured brutal trolling on social media over the viral "ek ditta point" video. The video originally surfaced this season, during their six-match winning streak. It exploded online after their match against Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned due to relentless rain, leaving both teams with one point apiece.
This video irked a few franchise fans, who relentlessly targeted Shreshta during the team's six-match losing streak that culminated in their playoff exit. The trolling spiraled into online abuse. Shreshta finally responded by posting a two-part video on her official Instagram account, where she clarified the video's intent and condemned the abuse aimed at her and her family.
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“The video that I had created earlier, you guys exaggerated it to extremes, when the motive of the reel was just a fun banter. I wasn’t trolling anyone; I had no bad intentions behind the banter. I wasn’t spreading hate against anyone. I respect every cricketer because my brother is a cricketer", Shreshta was heard as saying in the video.
Watch the video here:
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View this post on Instagram
She also revealed that the abuse transcended social media, as she was harassed at her workplace along with her colleagues.
“I pity you guys. You have been calling my workplace, tormenting me, my colleagues, my students, and my family. Harassing them and calling at random times," she said.
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She stressed that she can withstand criticism aimed at her, but targeting her family and colleagues crosses a line.
“If you want to hate me, continue. But stop tormenting the people associated with me. I am not here to dictate what is right or wrong. I will celebrate my brother—whether he triumphs or falls, I will always celebrate him," she said.
The Kolkata-based franchise and the Shreyas Iyer-led side battled through opposite stints this year, yet both crashed out of the playoff race.
PBKS clinched six of their first seven games, but then stumbled through a six-match losing streak fueled by poor decision-making with both the ball and the bat and sloppy fielding. They captured their last group-stage match but finished fifth in the points table.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side dropped five of their first six matches, but then roared back to win six of their next seven, including a super over victory against the Lucknow Super Giants, and kept their playoff hopes flickering. But after losing to Delhi Capitals in their last group-stage match, they landed seventh on the points table.