📌 Key Points
- Punjab Kings, last year’s finalists, exited IPL 2026 in fifth place, missing playoffs by one point.
- The team dominated early, winning six consecutive matches and holding the top spot for nearly a month.
- A six-match losing streak led to their elimination from the playoffs race and intense online trolling.
- Shreyas’ sister, Shresta, clarified her viral reel and condemned the harassment directed at her family.
Preity Zinta has finally spoken out following Punjab Kings’ dramatic exit from IPL 2026. After a strong start, the team faltered, missing the playoffs by a single point. The season also saw controversy with Shreyas’ sister, Shresta, addressing severe online trolling.
PBKS’s Rollercoaster IPL 2026 Journey Ends
Punjab Kings entered IPL 2026 as last year’s finalists and exited the league stage in fifth place with 15 points, one short of the playoff cut. During the first half of the IPL season, Punjab Kings dominated the points table, winning their first six matches in a row and holding the number one position for nearly a month. However, in second half of IPL, the team struggled to win matches and, eventually on Sunday, it got eliminated from the playoffs race.
During that six-match losing streak, Shreyas’ sister, Shresta, was relentlessly trolled on social media over the viral “ditta ek point” clip. The video had originally been posted earlier in the season during PBKS’s six-match winning streak. It came after Punjab’s match against the Kolkata Knight Riders — who were then enduring a losing streak — was washed out due to rain, forcing the two teams to share a point each.
Shreyas’ Sister Shresta Addresses Online Trolling
Reacting to the backlash, Shresta released a two-part video on Instagram to clarify the intent behind the original reel and condemn the abuse directed at her and her family.
“The video that I had created earlier, you guys exaggerated it to extremes, when the motive of the reel was just a fun banter,” she said. “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.”
The ‘Ditta Ek Point’ Controversy Explained
Shresta further stated that while she can deal with criticism aimed at her personally, dragging her family and professional circle into the abuse was unacceptable.
“If you want to hate me, please continue doing that, but stop harassing people affiliated with me. I am not here to tell what is right or wrong. I will celebrate my brother — whether he wins or loses, I will always celebrate him.”
The IPL 2026 season proved to be a challenging journey for Punjab Kings, marked by both triumph and disappointment. Preity Zinta’s reflection and Shresta’s stand against online abuse highlight the intense pressures faced by those associated with the league.
