Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta took a strong stand against a troll on Tuesday after a derogatory comment linked Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s IPL performance to her personal life. The troll had implied that Maxwell underperformed for the franchise because she didn’t marry him—prompting a bold and articulate response from the Bollywood actress and IPL franchise co-owner.
The Troll and Zinta’s Reply
A user named Notorious on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
“Mam Maxwell ki aapse shadi ni Hui isiliye vo aapko team se accha ni khelta tha?”
(Translation: “Ma’am, did Maxwell not play well for your team because he didn’t marry you?”)
Preity Zinta, who has been at the forefront of PBKS operations for nearly two decades, did not take the sexist remark lightly. She replied with a detailed and powerful statement:
“Will you ask this question to the male team owners of all teams, or is this discrimination just towards the women? I never knew how difficult it is for women to survive in corporate setups until I got into cricket.
I’m sure you asked this question out of humour, but I hope you can actually look at your question and understand what you are trying to say—because if you really understand what you’re trying to say, it’s not pretty! I think I have earned my stripes by working very hard for the past 18 years so please give me the respect I deserve & stop with the gender bias. Thank you.”
Maxwell’s Performance for PBKS
Glenn Maxwell has had a long and mixed journey with Punjab Kings. Across 72 IPL matches for the Mohali-based side, he has scored 1342 runs and taken 17 wickets. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, Maxwell was re-signed by PBKS for ₹4.20 crore.
However, his campaign this season was cut short due to an injury. Before being ruled out, Maxwell played seven matches, scoring just 48 runs and taking four wickets—a modest return for a player of his calibre. He has since been replaced by uncapped Australian cricketer Mitchell Owen.
Punjab Kings in IPL 2025
Despite Maxwell’s absence, PBKS are having their best season in over a decade. After 11 matches, they sit third on the IPL 2025 points table with 15 points. They’ve won seven games and if they secure one more victory from their remaining three matches, they are set to qualify for the IPL playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Final Thoughts
Preity Zinta’s response underlines a larger issue—the persistent gender bias in male-dominated fields like sports management. Her leadership and dedication over the past 18 years with Punjab Kings have contributed immensely to the team’s stability and growing success. Her dignified yet firm rebuttal not only defends her role but also calls for equality and respect for women in sports administration.
Zinta’s reply has received widespread support across social media, with fans and commentators applauding her courage to speak out against inappropriate and sexist remarks.
