IPL 2025: 'This Is FAKE NEWS', Says Preity Zinta As X User Claims Bollywood Actress 'Exposed' Rishabh Pant & Wanted 'Big Performer' Over 'Big Name'

Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Preity Zinta rubbished a fan's claims as he wrote on X how the Bollywood actress 'exposed' Rishabh Pant and picked 'performer' Shreyas Iyer over 'big name'. The 50-year-old strongly refuted those claims and wrote in bold letters on X, 'I’m so sorry but this is FAKE NEWS !'

Pant (₹27 crore) and Iyer (₹26.75) were two of the costliest players in the IPL 2025 auction, shattering records as Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings pouched them, respectively. However, Pant's performances have come under criticism as his only good performance in the edition has been the 49-ball 63 against the Chennai Super Kings, including two ducks. By contrast, Iyer-led PBKS are currently 2nd in the points table and the right-hander has amassed 257 runs in IPL 2025.

Meanwhile, an X user claimed the below that prompted Preity Zinta to label it as fake news:

"Rishabh Pant had said in an interview that I could go anywhere but not to Punjab Kings. But now Punjab owner Preity Zinta exposed Rishabh Pant and said, "WE HAD BOTH RISHABH PANT AND SHREYAS IYER- OPTIONS WE COULD HAVE TAKEN IN THE TEAM. BUT WE WANTED A BIG PERFORMER, NOT A BIG NAME...SO WE TOOK SHREYAS IYER IN THE TEAM".

Punjab Kings had defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their latest game

Meanwhile, the Punjab Kings had defeated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium for their latest win in IPL 2025 and it came in a 14-over contest.

After restricting the hosts to 95/9 in 14 overs, Punjab Kings did find themselves in slight trouble, succumbing to 53/4 at one stage. However, Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis held their nerves to take their side over the line.

Punjab Kings' next IPL 2025 game is also against RCB on April 20, Sunday in Mullanpur.

Published on: Saturday, April 19, 2025, 01:12 PM IST