Banter or racism? Arshdeep Singh calls Tilak Varma 'oye andhere', faces backlash
Punjab Kings fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has landed in trouble over his social media videos once again. In a video posted on Snapchat, Arshdeep can be heard calling Tilak 'andhera', which loosely translates to dark.
Arshdeep Singh landed in controversy once again over his social media activity after a video involving Tilak Varma went viral on Thursday, May 14. Known for his unfiltered online personality, the Punjab Kings fast bowler shared a video on Snapchat in which he was seen engaging in playful banter with the Mumbai Indians batter.
In the clip, Arshdeep appeared to refer to Tilak as “andhere”, which translates to “dark” in English. Tilak initially ignored the remark, but Arshdeep continued the banter and jokingly told him to use sunscreen. The pacer also pointed towards Tilak’s teammate Naman Dhir, calling him the real “noor” from Punjab, with “noor” meaning light.
As Naman explained the meaning of the word to Tilak, the left-handed batter responded by saying that he already applies sunscreen.
While the exchange appeared to be light-hearted banter between friends, several users on social media criticised Arshdeep for what they viewed as racist undertones in the comments directed at Tilak.
“Punjabi humour is effortlessly racist and dark man,” one user wrote on social media.
“This is just pathetic... how does dude think behaving like this is acceptable,” another commented.
ARSHDEEP'S SOCIAL MEDIA UNDER SCANNER
The viral clip has once again brought attention to cricketers’ use of social media platforms and the boundaries of online humour involving public figures.
Earlier this season, reports had suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued fresh guidelines for all stakeholders involved in the Indian Premier League, including players, managers and support staff, regarding social media conduct and off-field behaviour.
The advisory reportedly covered areas such as guest interactions, access to team hotels, smoking and vaping, display of accreditation cards and compliance with anti-corruption protocols.
Arshdeep has built a massive presence online as a content creator and vlogger, regularly posting reels and behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram, where he has amassed more than six million followers.
Punjab Kings were also reportedly expected to hold meetings with players regarding the new guidelines and obtain signatures confirming compliance with the protocols.
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Arshdeep Singh landed in controversy once again over his social media activity after a video involving Tilak Varma went viral on Thursday, May 14. Known for his unfiltered online personality, the Punjab Kings fast bowler shared a video on Snapchat in which he was seen engaging in playful banter with the Mumbai Indians batter.
In the clip, Arshdeep appeared to refer to Tilak as “andhere”, which translates to “dark” in English. Tilak initially ignored the remark, but Arshdeep continued the banter and jokingly told him to use sunscreen. The pacer also pointed towards Tilak’s teammate Naman Dhir, calling him the real “noor” from Punjab, with “noor” meaning light.
As Naman explained the meaning of the word to Tilak, the left-handed batter responded by saying that he already applies sunscreen.
While the exchange appeared to be light-hearted banter between friends, several users on social media criticised Arshdeep for what they viewed as racist undertones in the comments directed at Tilak.
“Punjabi humour is effortlessly racist and dark man,” one user wrote on social media.
“This is just pathetic... how does dude think behaving like this is acceptable,” another commented.
ARSHDEEP'S SOCIAL MEDIA UNDER SCANNER
The viral clip has once again brought attention to cricketers’ use of social media platforms and the boundaries of online humour involving public figures.
Earlier this season, reports had suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued fresh guidelines for all stakeholders involved in the Indian Premier League, including players, managers and support staff, regarding social media conduct and off-field behaviour.
The advisory reportedly covered areas such as guest interactions, access to team hotels, smoking and vaping, display of accreditation cards and compliance with anti-corruption protocols.
Arshdeep has built a massive presence online as a content creator and vlogger, regularly posting reels and behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram, where he has amassed more than six million followers.
Punjab Kings were also reportedly expected to hold meetings with players regarding the new guidelines and obtain signatures confirming compliance with the protocols.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
