Intro
Ponting praises domestic stars as Punjab Kings rebuild around strong Indian core
Chennai
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting has credited the franchise’s resurgence to its young Indian batting core, describing them as “special” talents who form the backbone of the team’s long-term vision in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
Ponting revealed that PBKS entered the previous auction with a clear plan to rebuild from scratch, focusing on high-quality domestic players. Retaining only Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh, the franchise freed up a massive purse to reshape the squad with fresh talent and proven performers.
“Our young Indian players at the top of the order are pretty special,” Ponting said, emphasising that the team’s strategy revolved around building a strong Indian core and complementing it with experienced overseas players.
Among the key acquisitions were captain Shreyas Iyer, pacer Arshdeep Singh, and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal — all of whom have played crucial roles since IPL 2025.
The approach paid dividends in PBKS’ recent win over Chennai Super Kings, where young opener Priyansh Arya set the tone with a blistering 39 off just 11 balls. Iyer then anchored the chase with a composed half-century, guiding the team to successfully chase down a daunting 210 at Chepauk.
Ponting highlighted that having the freedom to select players he wanted to work with was key to shaping the squad. He noted that securing top Indian talent was a priority, with Iyer topping the wishlist, followed by impactful players like Arshdeep and Chahal.
Chahal, in particular, has been instrumental in the bowling department. His disciplined spell against CSK and earlier success against Gujarat Titans underlined his value as a match-winner in the middle overs.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh praised Chahal’s craft, noting his ability to deceive batters through flight and variation. He remarked that such classical leg-spin is becoming rare in modern cricket, comparing it to a “dying art.”
With a balanced mix of youth and experience, PBKS appear to be reaping the rewards of a well-executed rebuilding strategy, positioning themselves as strong contenders this season.
