Punjab Kings are all set to appear in their first Qualifier in eleven years—yes, a full eleven years. It hasn’t been a smooth journey for the team, but now, after more than a decade, they stand just a few steps away from achieving their dream, their destination.
But the question is—how did they pull off the unthinkable?
The first answer? Shreyas Iyer.
He was handed the captaincy, and it’s fair to say he has done a phenomenal job so far. Shreyas told his batting partner, Shashank Singh, two months ago to ignore his impending hundred and go for boundaries on every ball. This happened toward the end of Punjab Kings’ first innings against Gujarat Titans in the opening match of this IPL season.
That moment of belief, selflessness, and intent carried forward—and it became a defining reason why the Kings are now about to face Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier One.
“It was a risky two, but an easy one,” Shashank recalls. “Most non-strikers would have played it safe, especially when someone is on 97. IPL hundreds aren’t easy.
“But Shreyas was so selfless,” he adds. “He always puts the team first—always. That changed our vision. It reminded us that this is a team sport and the team always comes above any individual.”
The second reason? Head coach Ricky Ponting.
Ponting has known and backed Iyer since their days together at Delhi Capitals. For “Project Punjab” to succeed, Ponting knew he needed a captain who shared his values—and Iyer was the perfect fit.
“When you have a vision and things click right from the first game, you know the message is landing,” Ponting says.
“And the way we played that game—the dynamism, the daring—that all came through. If you’re trying to create change, your leaders and experienced players have to buy in first. They set the tone. They set the standard.”
The third reason? The uncapped heroes.
Players like Prabhsimran Singh, Arya, Shashank Singh, and Nehal Wadhera have stepped up in a big way.
Before the season began, both Prabhsimran and Shashank credited their self-belief to Ponting and Jitesh Iyer. Ahead of the 2023 player retention deadline, Ponting personally called Prabhsimran to praise his century against Delhi Capitals and promised to help him grow—if Punjab retained him.
Since then, Prabhsimran has become a core player. He scored 358 runs in 2023 and 334 in 2024, but this season, he’s exploded with 499 runs at a strike rate of 165.7, including four fifties. Ponting encouraged him to aim for match-winning knocks, not just decent totals.
Ponting’s influence has also reshaped the team culture. Instead of obsessing over results or missed chances, the Kings now focus on role clarity, positivity, and team spirit. That shift led to historic moments—like the 100-run partnership between uncapped players Prabhsimran and Arya against KKR, where they scored 83 and 69 respectively. It was the first time in IPL history that an uncapped duo achieved such a feat.
And the fourth reason? The pacers.
Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh have been instrumental. They’ve delivered key performances at crucial moments, anchoring the bowling unit and giving the Kings the edge in close games.
Now, as Punjab Kings step into the final and most crucial stage of the season, Ponting knows the pressure is real—but he believes his team is ready.
“I’ve always believed that big moments bring out the best in players,” he says. “You can’t fake that. You can’t try any harder than you already have. This group has been beautifully prepared. They’ve handled every situation this season.
“And if you look back, when we’ve been under the most pressure—that’s when we’ve played our best cricket.”
