The Punjab Kings have started with only wins in their bag, even though a match against the KKR got washed out, they're still in the top 3 at the points table. PBKS started their campaign with a match against the Gujarat Titans which was won by the contribution of players like Cooper Connolly, Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal. They also won their match against the Chennai Super Kings and their young player, Priyansh Arya got the Player of the Match for that clash.
So while you keep waiting for their next match, here are our 3 reasons on why they can win the tournament this year:
-
Settled Leadership and "Winning Pedigree"
Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, who previously led KKR to the 2024 title, PBKS has found much-needed stability. Iyer’s leadership, combined with the strategic vision of head coach Ricky Ponting, transformed the team's fortunes last year, leading them to a top-of-the-table finish in the league stage. This established culture of winning is expected to carry over into 2026.
-
Strongest Indian Core in the League: Unlike previous seasons, the current squad is anchored by a formidable Indian spine, reducing over-reliance on overseas stars. Key players include:
Arshdeep Singh: The leading wicket-taker for PBKS in 2025 (21 wickets).
Yuzvendra Chahal: The IPL's all-time leading wicket-taker, who leads the spin attack.
Explosive Openers: The pair of Priyansh Arya (who hit 475 runs in 2025) and Prabhsimran Singh provides one of the most destructive Powerplay starts in the tournament.
-
Most Destructive Finishing Unit: PBKS was the league's most effective team in the death overs (16–20) during the 2025 season, scoring at a rate of 12 runs per over. With reliable finishers like Shashank Singh—who nearly pulled off a win in last year's final—and Nehal Wadhera, the team has the firepower to turn tight games in their favour.
PBKS to turn from runners-up to winners this year
In the 2025 IPL season, Punjab Kings (PBKS) achieved their best performance in over a decade by finishing as the Runners-up. Under the new leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the team staged a remarkable turnaround from their 9th-place finish in 2024.
