Shreyas Iyer has found himself at the centre of another controversy, but this time it has nothing to do with India’s performances on the ongoing England tour. The spotlight has shifted to his sister, Shresta Iyer, after her activity on Instagram drew widespread attention. The incident quickly became a talking point among cricket fans, adding fresh drama to an already difficult period for the India T20I captain following the team’s series defeat.
The controversy began after fans noticed that Shresta had liked an Instagram post claiming Shreyas Iyer was playing alongside “10 snakes” in the Indian dressing room. The post suggested that while the captain continued to shoulder the blame for India’s disappointing results, he was not receiving adequate support from his teammates. Screenshots of the like soon spread across social media, triggering intense debate among fans over the meaning behind the gesture.
Shresta Iyer Sparks Controversy After Liking ’10 Snakes’ Post About Shreyas Iyer’s Team India Teammates
The Instagram post that drew attention featured a photo of Shreyas Iyer celebrating his half-century against England in the opening T20I, alongside the caption, “Shreyas Iyer is playing with 10 snakes 🐍.” While the post itself quickly gained traction, it was Shresta Iyer’s apparent like that sparked even greater debate across social media. The post argued that Iyer has been made the primary target whenever India loses, despite cricket being a team sport, and praised him for consistently responding to criticism with performances, taking responsibility under pressure, and showing resilience in the face of repeated trolling.
The page also backed the India captain, expressing confidence that he would silence critics through his performances in the future. It pointed out that Iyer is still chasing his first victory as India’s T20I captain after six consecutive defeats, including two losses during the Ireland series, while insisting that the current results should not define his leadership journey.
Even before the Instagram controversy surfaced, Shresta had publicly defended her brother during an appearance on a podcast. She stressed that cricket is a team game and reminded fans that legendary Indian captains such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma had all endured difficult phases. Shresta also maintained that it was unfair to judge Shreyas based solely on recent results and expressed confidence that the same critics would eventually hail him as one of India’s greatest captains.
Shresta Iyer’s Latest Social Media Activity Rekindles Earlier Controversies
Shresta Iyer, a professional dancer and the sister of India captain Shreyas Iyer, previously found herself at the centre of a major social media controversy during the 2026 IPL season. The issue began after she shared a light-hearted Instagram reel wearing a Punjab Kings jersey following the rain-affected match against Kolkata Knight Riders, where she joked, “We Punjabis have big hearts, so we gave you one point.” Although the video was initially intended as harmless banter, it resurfaced after Punjab Kings missed out on the IPL playoffs by a single point, triggering widespread criticism online. Many fans accused her of mocking the franchise, and the clip quickly became a target for trolls.
The online backlash soon escalated beyond social media. Shresta later revealed that she received r*pe and death threats, along with relentless abuse and personal attacks. Trolls also targeted her workplace in Dubai by making abusive calls to her colleagues and family members. Amid the controversy, even her social media activity came under intense scrutiny, with alleged likes and interactions on controversial posts becoming the subject of speculation. Speaking about the abuse, Shresta urged fans to remember that cricket is only a game and appealed for players’ families to be kept away from online hatred and personal attacks.
