Punjab Kings Gear Up for IPL 2026 with Ricky Ponting's Guidance

The Punjab Kings have commenced their training for IPL 2026, with head coach Ricky Ponting emphasizing the importance of focusing on the process. As last year's runners-up, they will face the Gujarat Titans in their season opener. Ponting's motivational address highlighted the need for mental and physical readiness, while also acknowledging that mistakes are part of the game. The full squad for the upcoming season has been announced, featuring key players like Shreyas Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal. Fans are eager to see how the team performs this season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 11:43 IST

Punjab Kings Begin IPL 2026 Preparations

The Punjab Kings have officially started their training for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Head coach Ricky Ponting has joined the team and emphasized the importance of focusing on the process during this crucial preparation phase.

Season Opener Against Gujarat Titans

As last year's runners-up, PBKS will kick off their season against the 2022 champions, Gujarat Titans, on March 31 in New Chandigarh. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer and the guidance of Ponting, the team proved to be a strong contender last season, narrowly missing out on their first IPL title by just six runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who ended an 18-year title drought.

Ponting's Motivational Address to the Team

During a recent training session, Ponting shared his thoughts with the squad, stating, "This is training, this is preparation. We need to be physically, technically, and mentally ready for our first match on the 31st. Reflect on what you contributed to the team last year that made us successful."

He acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable throughout the season, including his own, but stressed the importance of adhering to the game plan. "Mistakes will happen, and that's acceptable. As long as you stick to your game plan, making a mistake is just part of the game," he added.

Complete Punjab Kings Squad for IPL 2026

The full roster for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 includes: Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Cooper Connolly (Rs 3 Cr), Pravin Dubey (Rs 30 lakh), Vishal Nishad (Rs 30 lakh), and Ben Dwarshuis (Rs 4.40 Cr).