DHARAMSHALA: Punjab Kings remain unfazed by ongoing rumors of team discord circulating on social media, assistant bowling coach Trevor Gonsalves stated on Wednesday. He insisted the team is focused on cricket despite speculation about off-field conduct and a four-match losing streak after a strong start to the season.
Team Focused on Cricket, Not Rumors
Gonsalves emphasized that players are mature enough to handle online noise. The coaching staff prioritizes preparing for upcoming matches over chasing every rumor. "Any blogger can post anything on social media, and lakhs of people may derive sadistic joy from it," he said. "We are more concerned about the cricketing part."
Internal Confidence Remains High
He reiterated that nothing has changed internally, and the dressing room remains confident about playoff qualification. "Three games are left. We hope to give our best. There are areas to iron out, and we'll come back strongly," Gonsalves added.
Ricky Ponting's Leadership Praised
When asked about head coach Ricky Ponting's handling of the situation, Gonsalves praised his calm leadership. "Ricky has been marvelous. He knows how to deal with such stuff. I've seen absolute professionalism in how he handles players and situations. Social media can be both good and bad, but a line has been drawn."
Background of Controversy
The controversy began when a clip from pacer Arshdeep Singh's travel vlog went viral, with viewers alleging Yuzvendra Chahal was vaping on a flight. Arshdeep was later directed by the BCCI to refrain from posting vlogs. Subsequently, reports emerged about Prabhsimran Singh gaining weight, players staying up late, avoiding practice, and missing flights. Allegations of a rift between captain and senior players also surfaced.
The PBKS management issued a strong statement initially calling out "sports journalists," later edited to remove that phrase. Prabhsimran responded on Instagram by posting a story flexing his physique near a waterfall in Dharamshala with a shushing emoji.
Co-owner Preity Zinta tweeted: "There's a difference between criticism and calculated misinformation. Healthy debate is welcome, but deliberate spread of fake narratives to damage individuals, the team, or the brand will not be taken lightly. I urge everyone, including verified voices and media professionals, to exercise responsibility before amplifying unverified information."
Looking Ahead
With the league entering its decisive phase, Punjab is banking on senior players to deliver under pressure. Gonsalves suggested the situation could bring out the best in the squad. "These are big cricketers, and they rise at the right moment. Now is the right time," he concluded.
