May 25, 2025: Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta has voiced her frustration over a controversial umpiring decision that played a significant role in her team’s crucial loss to Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The defeat, which came at a critical stage of the season, has all but ended Punjab’s hopes of finishing in the top two of the points table.
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The flashpoint occurred during the 15th over of PBKS’s innings. Shashank Singh appeared to have smashed a six off Delhi’s Mohit Sharma, with Karun Nair attempting a boundary save. While Nair caught the ball near the ropes and pushed it back in play, he could be seen signaling a six himself—indicating his foot had touched the boundary.
Despite the visible gesture and Nair’s own admission, the third umpire, after a brief check, ruled it a legal save and awarded only a single run.
Fuming over the decision, Zinta took to social media after the match. “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!” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Punjab Kings camp was left stunned by the decision, especially given the high stakes. A win against DC would have secured PBKS a better shot at a Qualifier 1 berth, but the narrow defeat now leaves their playoff fate hanging in the balance, dependent on other teams’ results.
With only one league match left — against the formidable Mumbai Indians — Punjab Kings are now under pressure, and Zinta’s outburst has brought renewed attention to the use of technology and the accuracy of third umpire decisions in high-stakes matches.
As fans debate the fairness of the call, one thing is clear: tensions are rising as the IPL 2025 playoff race reaches its dramatic final stretch.