Young Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsman Nehal Wadhera has made a bold prediction ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) starting from March 28. When Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost the IPL 2025 final to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Nehal Wadhera took full responsibility for the painful defeat.
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings were chasing their maiden IPL titles at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB finally won their first IPL trophy. A historic match took place where RCB defeated Punjab Kings by just six runs in a thrilling match.
RCB posted a struggling total of 190 runs in their 20 overs and PBKS tried hard, but they fell just six runs short of the target and the Bengaluru side finally won the trophy after 18 years.
Nehal Wadhera still regrets his IPL 2025 final innings
A moment from the IPL 2025 final still haunts Nehal Wadhera. The young batsman could score only 15 runs in 18 balls during the chase. Even now, the Punjab batsman admitted that he could have played his shots earlier and handled the pressure better.
Also read: No Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle! Faf du Plessis names the greatest opening pair of IPL so far
Recalling his statement after that heartbreaking defeat, Vadher said on the Find A Way podcast, “I thought I might have delayed my shot a little bit. I should have played a little bit earlier.”
He also shared how PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting was confident of winning IPL trophies in that team’s future. “He said this team sitting in front of me, I really, from the bottom of my heart, and I’m very honest right now, I can see an IPL trophy in this team,” Vadhera revealed.
How Shreyas Iyer keeps PBKS motivated
Nehal Wadhera also revealed how Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer played a vital role in keeping the players motivated in the 2025 season. He also revealed how Iyer encouraged everyone and reminded them that one defeat does not decide the entire tournament.
Wadhera said, “Whenever we lost a game or went to the dressing room, Shreyas Iyer would make sure he would come forward and say, ‘What’s wrong brother? You are only losing a match. You are not losing the IPL. What’s the problem with you?’ Ricky Ponting said that I think the best captain of India at present is Shreyas Iyer. So, I think he saw something in her.”
Nehal Wadhera predicts IPL 2026 win for Punjab Kings
Even during the last season, many PBKS players cited Iyer’s leadership as one of the team’s biggest strengths. Well, after seeing RCB break their long title drought in 2025, Nehal Wadhera is confident that Punjab Kings will rewrite their history in the IPL 2026 season.
Big heart to accept such a loss. As a #PBKS Fans, I’m not angry with him at all. Playing for his state for the first time, played crucial innings in the eliminator against MI
Just misread the final. don’t blame him
He even said that PBKS will win the trophy in 19 years and 19 is Nehal’s lucky number pic.twitter.com/f9WxuKP83q– Harinder Singh Brar (@harry7081) 16 March 2026
He signed off by saying, “It will happen. After 18 years, RCB won. After 19 years, we will win. “19 is my lucky number.” PBKS will begin their campaign against Gujarat Titans on March 31 at New Chandigarh.
Also read: Former England captain SNUBS Suryakumar Yadav picks MS Dhoni as the best T20 captain of all time
