Should Arshdeep Singh face IPL ban for remark on Tilak Varma?

Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan wants a season ban for Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh — after the bowler allegedly called Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma 'Oye Andhere' ('Hey dark one') in a viral post-match video. It came right after MI chased 201 to beat PBKS by six wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Saturday. Sivaramakrishnan, drawing from his own run-ins with colourism, also called for pro-rata pay cuts.

Tilak Varma sealed it with an unbeaten 75 off 33 — six fours, six sixes — as MI won with five balls left. Shardul Thakur grabbed 4-39, while Prabhsimran Singh's 57 off 32 topped PBKS's 200/8. Jasprit Bumrah captained MI for the first time, with Hardik Pandya out on back spasms and Suryakumar Yadav away for personal reasons; he chose to bowl first.

PBKS slumped to their fifth straight IPL 2026 loss, while MI rebounded from a defeat to RCB. The clip blew up on social media amid the IPL's conduct crackdown. PBKS recalled Azmatullah Omarzai, who smashed 38 off 17 with four sixes.