NEW DELHI: A brief yet captivating moment off the field stole the spotlight during Sunday’s IPL match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Actress and Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta was seen engaged in a lively conversation with BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and the candid video quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Fans were quick to share clips of the interaction, with many speculating whether the discussion was cricket-related or simply a friendly chat between two prominent IPL personalities.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Watch:
Dressed in her signature PBKS colours, Zinta appeared animated and involved, while Shukla, a veteran in cricket administration, listened and responded.
Poll
Did the off-field moment between Zinta and Shukla overshadow the Punjab Kings’ performance?
The duo’s conversation added a touch of glamour and intrigue to an otherwise tense evening for the Punjab Kings.
Poll
How important do you think celebrity presence is in sports events?
On the field, however, things were far from cheerful for Zinta’s franchise.
After a promising start with openers Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (33) putting together a brisk 42-run stand, the innings unravelled rapidly.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spin duo, Krunal Pandya (2/25) and Suyash Sharma (2/27), spun a web around the middle order, reducing PBKS to 76 for four in no time.
Krunal’s breakthrough in the fifth over sparked a collapse, and despite a late fightback from Shashank Singh (31 not out) and Marco Jansen (25 not out), Punjab could only manage a modest 157 for six.
The team’s stuttering performance on the pitch stood in stark contrast to the viral off-field moment involving Zinta and Shukla.
One thing is certain: when Preity Zinta is in the stands, entertainment extends well beyond the boundary ropes.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
