PBKS suffered a crushing defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1. After the defeat, Arshdeep Singh found a reason to smile.
As Punjab Kings regroup for their next must-win playoff match - the left-arm pacer took a moment to send a heartfelt message to the home fans in Mullanpur. His words reflected a shift in tone -- from frustration before the match to gratitude and optimism after it.
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Punjab Kings were outclassed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a one-sided affair. They were bowled out for just 101 before RCB chased the target in 10 overs.
Yet, even in defeat, Arshdeep made it a point to acknowledge the crowd’s role on a tough night.
More: History favours RCB to win IPL 2025: Teams finishing 2nd have won the most titles
What did Arshdeep Singh have to say for the Mullanpur crowd?
After the match, Arshdeep shared a story on Instagram thanking the local fans for showing up. He also hinted at a strong comeback in the matches ahead.
"Thank you Mullanpur. Loved the support. Looking forward to the next two games and give you more than enough reasons to celebrate," he wrote.
It was a contrast to his comments earlier in the week when he had publicly expressed disappointment over the lack of backing from Punjabi fans. Responding to a fan on Snapchat, Arshdeep had said:
"Thank you for supporting us. You’re not Punjabi, but you’re still supporting Punjab, whereas there are a lot of people who don’t support Punjab and have different favourite teams. I would like to urge them to support Punjab, their state, their team, and come in big numbers to see us win."
What's next for Punjab Kings?
Punjab Kings still have a shot at playing the final. As the top team from the league stage - they will play in Qualifier 2 for a second chance at making the final.
A win there would set up a rematch with RCB - this time with the title on the line and perhaps a louder crowd in support.