Arshdeep Singh has come under severe scrutiny for his social media activities in the ongoing IPL.
Dhumal emphasized that while social media is a big part of modern sports, it should not disrupt a player's focus. He cited star batter Virat Kohli as a prime example of someone who focuses entirely on cricket despite his massive following.
"Cricketers should focus on realities rather than reels. Take Virat Kohli, for example - despite having a massive social media following, he remains completely focused on cricket when he is on the field. He has delivered results through his performances, not through reels. I feel players should avoid indulging in making reels while a tournament is underway," Dhumal told IANS.
The comments come amidst growing BCCI scrutiny regarding social media activities of players during the IPL 2026 season.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh found himself embroiled in controversy after a travel vlog uploaded by him allegedly showed Yuzvendra Chahal vaping on a team flight. Clips from the video went viral before the original upload was reportedly edited.
Moreover, Arshdeep faced severe online backlash following a Snapchat video. In the clip, he jokingly referred to Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma as "andhere" (dark one) and suggested he should apply sunscreen, sparking accusations of racism.
In response to protocol breaches and online conduct, the BCCI had earlier circulated fresh operational and security guidelines to all 10 IPL franchises.
The board's advisory included specific instructions on appropriate social media behavior and the creation of behind-the-scenes vlogs, with reports indicating that Arshdeep was specifically asked to halt his vlog recordings during the tournament.