High octane atmosphere IPL 2026 made a dramatic comeback from the cricket field as a veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finds himself at the center of a social media firestorm. Currently represents Kings of Punjab (PBKS)Chahal is making headlines not for his trademark fins, but for an Instagram direct message (DM) he allegedly sent to the actress and influencer Tania Chatterjee. After a video of Chatterjee showing her private messages to the paparazzi went viral, a controversy erupted and the cricketer called her “sweetie”.
Actress Taniya Chatterjee makes Yuzvendra Chahal’s DM public
The incident took place during a recent media interaction where Chatterjee, known for his roles in popular OTT serials like Gandhii Baat and projects on the Ullu platform, engaged photographers. In the viral clip, he holds up his smartphone to show a conversation purportedly belonging to Chahal. According to Chatterjee, an Indian international watched one of his videos and reacted with a simple message: “sweet”.
Chatterjee struck a casual pose when the paparazzi pressed her on whether she was responding to their interest. He noted that he saw the message much later and did not respond immediately.
“Being called cute is a pretty normal thing; many people say“, he noted, downplaying the intent while simultaneously ensuring the exchange was made public. The off-field distraction comes at a sensitive time for the first-ever 200-run bowler as Chahal continues his IPL 2026 campaign for Punjab after earning a whopping ₹18 crore last year.
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Digital collapse and the shadow of past personal news for Chahal
The revelation sparked polarizing debate on social media platforms. A significant number of his fans criticized the leg-spinner, questioning the veracity of the interaction given his public profile. On the contrary, many defenders argue that the one-word compliment is harmless and that the actress is sensationalizing a personal exchange for prestige. Debate has also focused on the ethics of privacy, with users debating whether revealing private DMs to the media is a breach of trust.
Adding weight to the controversy is the context of Chahal’s recent personal life. Many internet users pointed to the noisy divorce between Chahalla and the dancer Dhanashree VermaIt was completed in early 2025. This latest ‘DM scandal’ mirrors an earlier incident involving the actress. Khushi Mukherjeewho once claimed to have captained India Suryakumar Yadav he often texted her, later clarified this claim by stating that they were just friends. So far, neither Chahal nor the Punjab Kings management has issued an official statement regarding Chatterjee’s allegations. While the digital buzz continues to grow, for now, the Purple Cap candidate is focusing on upcoming devices.
