Punjab Kings (PBKS) have surprised everyone with one of the biggest changes in recent Indian Premier League (IPL) history. They once kept slipping near the bottom Mark sheetBut this team has now transformed into a powerful, confident and balanced unit.
Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer and the strong leadership of Ricky Ponting, Punjab Kings have now become one of the most fearless and dangerous teams in the IPL. Their rise began in 2025 when PBKS finally found the right combination and reached their second IPL final.
The Shreyas Iyer-Ricky Ponting duo has turned PBKS into a fearless force in the IPL
Even though they finished as runners-up in IPL 2025, losing the trophy to RCB, Punjab’s fearless style of cricket has already made many believe that they will bring something special soon. And they were right, as PBKS has come back even stronger in the current round ipl 2026 The magic of Shreyas Iyer-Ricky Ponting continues.
PBKS have started their campaign with consecutive wins, but their third game was washed out due to rain in Kolkata and they had to share points with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Nevertheless, the dominant Punjab team is leading the IPL 2026 points table with 5 points and +0.637 net run rate.
The biggest strength of PBKS this year is their stable playing eleven. Unlike previous seasons, where they tried different combinations every week, there is no cutting, no confusion, no last-minute experimentation. The players now look organized, the strategies seem clear and there is unity in the team.
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Virender Sehwag predicts first title for Punjab in 2026
This consistency has made a huge difference to the franchise. Given his poise, confidence and habit of winning, many experts are already calling punjab kings The strongest contenders for IPL 2026. They reached the finals twice but both times ended in heartbreak.
However, legendary batsman and former PBKS captain Virender Sehwag admitted that this could be the year for Punjab to end the IPL title drought. He predicted that Punjab Kings would make the finals this season, before eventually placing them among the top three teams to vie for glory.
Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz, “Punjab has played two finals. But they have lost both. So maybe this year Punjab will win the final. I would say they are in the top 3.”
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Mohit Sharma has predicted that Punjab Kings will again be in the top-2.
Meanwhile, former bowler of Chennai Super Kings Mohit Sharma It has also predicted that Punjab Kings will reach the final for the second consecutive time. He even said that PBKS is the strongest contender for its first title in IPL 2026.
Mohit Sharma said during the same discussion: “Consistency is very important. If your playing XI is consistent, they have not made any changes. I think at this point, I mean, I agree at this point that they are the strongest contenders to win the trophy. And this has been going on since last year. It is not that it has happened this year. It has been 2-3 games.”
“This has been going on since last year. And when your team is performing so well, you don’t need to change. If last year’s runner-up is not a strong contender, then I think we have to say that everyone has a different opinion. But yes, according to me, yes, they are top 2 contenders,” he said.
