Cricket is known as a gentleman’s game, but it often turns ugly with fights and cold wars on the field. Sadly, these issues do not stay limited to players. They quickly drag family members, especially women, who face harsh judgement and abuse from online fans. During the ongoing IPL 2026 season, such problems have risen again and left many upset with toxic male fans. Instead of supporting teams fairly, some people target innocent women linked to players and blame them for poor results.
Recently, several players’ family members faced online trolling due to team losses. Shresta Iyer, sister of Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer, shared a fun video after a rain-washed match between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Her attempt to cheer for her brother’s team ignited heavy criticism and hateful comments. She later posted on Instagram explaining that she meant no harm and respected all cricketers. Despite all of it, unknown people called her workplace with abusive words, troubled her colleagues and students, and disturbed her family with late-night calls. Even the children she trained received unwanted hurtful messages.
During an RCB versus SRH game, a verbal clash between Travis Head and Virat Kohli led to nasty attacks on Head’s wife, Jessica. In another case, the BCCI sent a detailed advisory to all IPL teams about risks like honey-trapping and data leaks. After reports of possible inside information sharing, fans began blaming Hardik Pandya’s girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, for his franchise’s weak performance this season. These events show a pattern where women bear the brunt of fan anger over men’s performances.
This trend is not new. For years, women linked to cricketers have faced blame. Anushka Sharma, for instance, was heavily criticised and trolled whenever Virat Kohli had a bad patch in his career. Society often treats women as the root cause of problems, even when they have nothing to do with the game. Though women are known for being caring and selfless, they still receive harsh abuse as if they were the ones playing on the field. Fans must grow up and show maturity. Criticism should stay limited to the players and their performance on the ground. Respecting personal boundaries will help keep cricket a beautiful and enjoyable sport for all.