'Please give me the respect I deserve': Preity Zinta schools netizen over sexist joke involving Glenn Maxwell

Preity Zinta, Glenn Maxwell (PIc: PTI/IPL/BCCI)

Punjab Kings co-owner and Bollywood actor Preity Zinta strongly rebuked a social media user on Tuesday after being subjected to an inappropriate remark during an interactive session on X (formerly Twitter).

The user made a tasteless comment linking Glenn Maxwell's underwhelming performances in IPL 2025 to his past association with Zinta, suggesting that the Australian cricketer was underperforming because the two did not get married.

"Mam Maxwell ki aapse shadi ni Hui isiliye vo aapko team se accha ni khelta tha?" (Ma'am, you not getting married to Maxwell is the reason behind his poor performance this season?), the user asked.

The comment was met with a sharp and dignified response from Preity, who called out the ingrained gender bias and urged the user to be more respectful.

"Will you ask this question to the male team owners of all teams, or is this discrimination just towards the women? I never knew how difficult it is for women to survive in corporate setups until I got into cricket," she wrote on X.

She went on to add: "I'm sure you asked this question out of humour, but I hope you can actually look at your question and understand what you are trying to say because if you really understand what you're trying to say, it's not pretty! I think I have earned my stripes by working very hard for the past 18 years so please give me the respect I deserve & stop with the gender bias. Thank you."

Her response has been widely praised by netizens, with many lauding her for calling out inappropriate behaviour and standing up against gender discrimination in sports administration.

Meanwhile, on the field, her team Punjab Kings has emerged as one of the most formidable sides in IPL 2025. Currently placed third on the points table with seven wins, three losses, and one no-result, PBKS have accumulated 15 points and are well on track for a strong finish.

The team's success has been fuelled by an explosive opening combination. Prabhsimran Singh has scored 487 runs in 12 matches, including five fifties, while his partner Priyansh Arya has amassed 417 runs with one century and two fifties. Skipper Shreyas Iyer has led from the front, contributing 405 runs in 12 matches along with sharp fielding and astute bowling changes.

Punjab Kings will resume their campaign on May 18 when they face Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, aiming to secure a top-two finish ahead of the playoffs.