Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 29: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has spoken passionately about his mission to lead the franchise to its maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, as the team gears up for a high-stakes playoff clash. Having already secured a top-two finish, PBKS is on the brink of rewriting history—and Iyer believes this could be their moment.
Acquired for a record Rs 26.75 crore in last year's mega auction, Iyer has lived up to expectations, guiding Punjab to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Speaking to Star Sports, the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) title-winning skipper said, “Ever since I was picked, my desire has been clear—Punjab hasn’t won the trophy yet, and my goal is to help the team lift it for the first time. I want to make the fans proud. In the end, we all want to see that iconic Punjabi celebration.”
Under Iyer’s leadership and the tactical guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting, PBKS has undergone a dramatic transformation. The duo previously worked together at Delhi Capitals, leading the side to the playoffs in 2019 and the finals in 2020. Their reunion in Punjab has rekindled that spark—this time with the intent to go all the way.
Ponting reflected on the internal culture shift that has fueled PBKS’s rise this season. “When I took the job, I told the owners: things will be different. But change doesn’t happen just because I say so. The players had to believe in it. From the captain to the kit staff, everyone has to move in the same direction. And that’s what we’re seeing — unity, belief, and hunger,” Ponting said.
He added that while the team has played “good cricket,” the job is far from done. “We’re enjoying ourselves, but we need to stay grounded. There’s a lot more to accomplish, and we’ve got to keep pushing. Nothing is won yet.”
Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 at their home ground in Mullanpur on Thursday. A win will take them straight to the final, while the losing team will have one more chance in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With momentum, belief, and a title-starved legacy driving them, PBKS is now just a few steps away from cricketing glory.