Jaipur: Preity Zinta is one of the most visible and energetic celebrity team owners in IPL. The Bollywood actress, co-owner of Punjab Kings, is seen at the stadium in most of the games cheering for her team.
The ‘Veer Zaara’ actress was present at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium on Saturday night as well, to watch Punjab Kings take on Delhi Capitals.
Punjab Kings, having already qualified for the playoffs, were looking to win and strengthen their chances of finishing the league phase among the top two.
Despite putting up a 200-plus total, Punjab went on to lose the game in the final over.
But there was a controversial moment during the Punjab innings, which Preity made it a point to highlight. In fact, she criticised the standard of umpiring in the IPL after her team was apparently ‘robbed’ of a six.
As Shashank Singh hit a big shot off Mohit Sharma in the 15th over, boundary fielder Karun Nair flicked leaped and flicked the ball back as it was travelling for a certain six.
However the Delhi fielder felt his leg touched the rope as he touched the ball, and himself signalled six.
The on-field umpires referred the decision to third umpire Chris Gaffaney, who found no conclusive evidence to signal a six. Hence, just one run was awarded to Punjab as the two batters had crossed over as the ball travelled to long on.
After the game, Preity took to social media and expressed that such ‘mistakes’ are ‘unacceptable’.
She also mentioned that even Nair told her after the game that it was a six.
“In a such a high profile tournament with so much technology at the Third Umpire’s disposal such mistakes are unacceptable & simply shouldn’t happen. I spoke To Karun after the game & he confirmed it was DEFINITELY a 6 ! I rest my case ! #PBKSvsDC #IPL2025,” Preity wrote on X.
In a such a high profile tournament with so much technology at the Third Umpire’s disposal such mistakes are unacceptable & simply shouldn’t happen. I spoke To Karun after the game & he confirmed it was DEFINITELY a 6 ! I rest my case ! #PBKSvsDC #IPL2025 https://t.co/o35yCueuNP
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) May 24, 2025
Defeat meant that Punjab stayed on 17 points, and missed the chance to go atop the standings. But they will have another crack at a top-two finish when they play Mumbai Indians in their last game on Monday.