Punjab Kings’ aggressive social media approach backfired on Sunday after Rajasthan Royals secured the final IPL 2026 playoff berth with a commanding win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. The
victory not only confirmed Rajasthan’s place in the knockouts but also eliminated the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab side from the tournament.
Soon after sealing qualification, Rajasthan Royals took a swipe at Punjab on social media, reviving an old post that had previously been aimed at them. Responding to Punjab’s “Sorry bhai, aaj nahi!” tweet, Rajasthan posted the popular Arjun Kapoor meme showing the actor locked outside while others walk into a party. The dig quickly went viral as fans linked it to Punjab’s late collapse in the playoff race.
Panga na lo 😉 https://t.co/eKa8CqIM9c pic.twitter.com/w11Ff813hU
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 24, 2026
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History Of PBKS’s Social Media Controversies
The exchange had its roots earlier in the season. Rajasthan had first used Salman Khan’s famous “Zinta’s team won kya?” line after defeating Punjab Kings on April 29. Following that win, Rajasthan shared a video of Donovan Ferreira with the caption: “Hold for it… ‘Sorry bhai, aaj nahi!’” Punjab responded days later, after Rajasthan lost to Delhi Capitals, mocking them despite not being involved in that fixture.
Punjab’s social media conduct has attracted criticism throughout the season, with many fans calling the tone unnecessarily provocative. Another controversial moment came after their rain-hit match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, when Punjab posted a celebratory dance video implying they had “donated” one point to Ajinkya Rahane’s side. Ironically, that shared point eventually proved costly, as Punjab finished on 15 points — one behind Rajasthan’s tally of 16.
Rajasthan, meanwhile, delivered under pressure in their must-win clash against Mumbai. Jofra Archer starred with a superb all-round display, smashing 32 off 15 balls to help RR reach 205 for 8 before dismantling Mumbai’s chase with figures of 3 for 17.
In the IPL 2026 playoffs, Rajasthan Royals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.
