IPL 2026: Cheerleader Targeted By Spectator Throwing Phone Number During LSG vs PBKS Clash (WATCH)

During the IPL 2026 match between LSG and PBKS, a spectator harassed a cheerleader by throwing a paper ball with his phone number at her. The incident, captured in a viral video, prompted immediate police action and sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the fan's behaviour.

An unpleasant incident involving fans and cheerleaders occurred during the IPL 2026 clash between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, May 23.

Punjab Kings kept their hopes alive for the playoffs by ending their six-match losing streak following a seven-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants. With a 197-run target, the PBKS chased it down in 18 overs or 12 balls to spare. Shreyas Iyer played an unbeaten captain’s knock of 101 off 51 balls, and his 140-run partnership for the third wicket with Prabhsimran Singh (69 off 38 balls) anchored the clinical chase.

Iyer also shared an unbeaten 38-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suryansh Shedge (9 off 7 balls) to seal the victory with 12 balls to spare. With this victory, Punjab Kings moved up to fourth spot on the points table with 13 points, keeping their mathematical playoff chances alive by a thread.

Spectator’s Misbehaviour with Cheerleader Goes Viral

As the Punjab Kings secured a crucial victory over Lucknow Super Giants, the focus quickly shifted away from the celebration on the field to a deeply unsettling off-field incident that took social media by storm. A spectator seated near the boundary area allegedly troubled the cheerleaders during the match.

In a video that went viral on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), an LSG cheerleader was seen expressing her displeasure by gesturing “don’t do that” after a spectator allegedly threw a paper ball containing his phone number at her. Visibly uncomfortable with the persistent disturbance, she stood her ground and made it clear that such actions were entirely unacceptable.

However, the police officials immediately intervened and took quick action against the group of fans involved in the disturbance. Visuals from the Ekana stadium showed law enforcement personnel, including female police officers, rushing to the specific stand to control the situation.

During the ongoing IPL season, the cheerleaders have encountered similar challenges with crowd behaviour, which previously prompted stadium management at venues like Ekana to take the extreme measure of installing protective wire netting around the performance stages. However, the latest incident highlights that even physical barriers haven't fully curbed the audacity of some unruly fans.

‘The Audacity is Unreal’: Netizens Slam Unruly Spectator for Harassing Cheerleader

The viral incident sparked a wave of furious reactions across social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), with fans and cricket enthusiasts heavily slamming the spectator's absolute lack of civic sense.

Taking to their X handles, the netizens strongly condemned the spectators’ behaviour, calling it ‘disgraceful,’ ‘shameful,’ and a reflection of poor civic sense, while many also questioned the continued presence of cheerleaders in cricket stadiums amid recurring incidents of harassment and misconduct.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings turned their focus entirely back to their tournament survival, celebrating a massive victory that kept their campaign breathing. However, the qualification to the playoffs will depend on the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders’ final fixtures against the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals.

Having completed all 14 of their group stage matches, the Kings have climbed to the fourth spot with 15 points and a healthy Net Run Rate of +0.309. However, their fate is no longer in their own hands.