Shreyas Iyer's sister Shresta hits back at online abuse after Punjab Kings defeat

Shreyas Iyer’s sister, Shresta Iyer, hit back at online trolls who targeted her after Punjab Kings’ seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025, calling the criticism “embarrassing” and rooted in “shallow mindsets.”

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer endured a quiet night with the bat during the side’s defeat against RCB on April 20.

Despite having beaten Bengaluru just days earlier at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, PBKS failed to repeat the result in the reverse fixture in Mullanpur.

While much of the post-match discussion focused on Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli’s dominant chase, some fans turned their ire toward Iyer — and even his family.

Shresta Iyer, who has often been seen supporting her brother at games, took to social media to condemn the vitriol directed at her.

“It’s honestly disappointing to see people stoop so low as to blame the family for simply showing up to support,” she wrote.

“Whether we’re physically present or cheering from afar, our support for the team is unwavering.”

She added that trolling those in the stands or online, rather than evaluating the actual game, revealed more about the critics than the players.

“To those pointing fingers at me, your shallow mindset is not only laughable, it’s embarrassing,” she continued. “But I guess when you’re busy trolling from behind a screen, facts don’t matter.”

According to posts circulated online, Shresta is the latest among cricketing families to face online abuse, with similar incidents reported involving Shubman Gill’s sister, KL Rahul’s wife Athiya Shetty, and even Rohit Sharma’s daughter.

In the match, RCB chased down 158 with ease as Padikkal struck 61 off 35 balls while Kohli anchored the innings with an unbeaten 73.

Their partnership of 103 in just 11.3 overs ensured RCB’s dominance and pushed them into the top four of the IPL 2025 points table.

Padikkal’s performance ended a long wait for a half-century, while Kohli’s calm presence ensured RCB avenged their earlier loss.

Punjab’s defeat, however, ignited a wave of frustration among fans — some of which crossed the line.

Shresta’s response highlights a growing concern in modern cricket: the toxic trend of dragging players’ families into online abuse following poor performances.