Punjab Kings IPL 2026 Exit: Shreyas Iyer's Sister Shresta Hits Back At Trolls After Being Labeled Bad Luck Charm

Punjab Kings’ narrow exit from the IPL 2026 playoff race has spilled onto social media, where Shresta Iyer, sister of Indian batter Shreyas Iyer, is being targeted. A section of users has unfairly branded Shresta a “bad luck charm” for Punjab Kings, prompting strong responses from Shresta defending personal boundaries.

The trolling erupted after Punjab Kings finished fifth with 15 points, one short of Rajasthan Royals, who secured 16 points and the final playoff place. Rajasthan Royals displaced Punjab Kings from fourth spot by defeating Mumbai Indians in the penultimate league game, only hours after a Shreyas Iyer batting masterclass in Lucknow had briefly restored Punjab Kings’ position.

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 playoff equation and season swing

Punjab Kings had appeared secure earlier in IPL 2026. The team opened their campaign with six consecutive victories and then had a no result, creating a record seven-match unbeaten run. At that stage, Punjab Kings sat on 13 points and occupied the top of the table for almost a month, entering mid-season as strong fan favourites.

The turnaround proved harsh. Poor tactical calls with bat and ball, along with dropped catches, triggered a steep slump. Punjab Kings lost six matches in a row, a sequence that damaged confidence and standings. A later win against Lucknow Super Giants brought their tally to 15 points, but that late recovery could not repair the earlier slide.

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 rain-affected clash and online reaction

The trolling against Shresta drew from a rain-hit league meeting between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. That match was abandoned without a ball being bowled, forcing both teams to share one point. After that game, Shresta posted a celebratory clip with fellow Punjab Kings supporters, combining humour and team loyalty.

In the video, Shresta appeared with other Punjab Kings fans and said, “We Punjabis are big-hearted. So, we gave you a point.” Many viewers initially perceived the post as light-hearted. However, another segment of social media users took offence, circulating the clip widely and later blaming that shared point when Punjab Kings slipped out of playoff contention.

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 trolls, Shresta Iyer and family blame

As criticism intensified, some users began calling Shresta a “bad luck charm” for Punjab Kings and directed abusive comments at the family. On Monday, Shresta released two longer videos addressing the issue. Shresta said that hate messages had reached not only Shresta but also “my people”, describing the online targeting as harassment linked to match results.

One of Shresta’s videos challenged the interpretation of the clip from the washed-out Punjab Kings versus Kolkata Knight Riders game. Shresta said, “You think that was a trolling video; in my view, it was a fun banter video and there were no bad intentions behind it. I was just supporting my brother’s team.” Shresta stressed that the intent was playful, not mocking.

Shresta also criticised the wider trend of blaming relatives of players when teams lose. Shresta said, “Aap log team ke har ya jeet ke liye family ko blame kar dete ho, ya player ke batting performance ke liye unki wives, sisters ya family ko blame karne lag jaate ho... Main hamesha apne bhai ko support karungi. Jab bhi woh jeetega, main celebrate karungi, aur jab bhi woh harega tab bhi usko support karungi, kyunki main apne support mein hamesha consistent rahungi. Cricket ek aisa game hai jahan pe win aur loss dono hote rehte hain. You are literally harassing me and my people.”

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 table maths and Kolkata Knight Riders campaign

The shared point from the washed-out fixture ultimately carried major weight. Punjab Kings, runners-up in IPL 2025, ended IPL 2026 on 15 points and fifth place. Their net run rate remained stronger than Rajasthan Royals’, so a victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in that abandoned match would likely have taken Punjab Kings into the playoffs.

Kolkata Knight Riders experienced an opposite journey during IPL 2026. The side struggled early, dealing with inconsistent batting and injuries to key players. In their first six matches, Kolkata Knight Riders suffered five defeats and had one no result, leaving the franchise lodged near the lower half of the table and appearing far from the qualification picture.

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 context and Knights’ late surge

Despite that poor start, Kolkata Knight Riders mounted a late charge after a six-game winless run. The team won six of the next eight fixtures, reviving playoff hopes before Rajasthan Royals’ result against Mumbai Indians closed the door. Kolkata Knight Riders’ elimination was confirmed by Rajasthan Royals’ victory in that penultimate league encounter.

Key Kolkata Knight Riders players drove this revival. Big-money signing Cameron Green, opener Finn Allen and vice-captain Rinku Singh made important contributions with the bat. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy also played decisive roles, sustaining Kolkata Knight Riders through the final stages and keeping the race alive until the final round of league games.

By the end of the league phase, both Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders had at one point been level on 13 points, a scenario few supporters imagined a month earlier. The eventual elimination of Punjab Kings and the abuse faced by Shresta Iyer highlighted the fine margins of IPL 2026 and renewed questions about how online fandom often spills into personal attacks beyond the field.