Punjab Kings began their IPL 2026 campaign in stunning fashion and quickly emerged as one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Led by Shreyas Iyer, PBKS remained unbeaten in their first six matches and comfortably climbed to the top of the points table. However, things changed dramatically as the team suffered six consecutive defeats, slipping out of the top four and putting their playoff chances under serious pressure.
Despite their struggles on the field, Punjab Kings have also faced heavy criticism and trolling online over several alleged off-field incidents. However, head coach Ricky Ponting made it clear that the negative discussions surrounding the team have not affected the dressing room atmosphere.
Speaking about the situation, Ponting explained that the team has managed everything internally in a professional manner and has not allowed outside noise to become a distraction. He pointed out that social media often turns small headlines into major controversies but according to him, the players remain focused only on winning matches and improving performances. Ricky Ponting also suggested that if Punjab Kings qualify for the playoffs, much of the criticism and negativity around the team would automatically disappear.
The team recently endured a disappointing three-match losing streak in Dharamsala before regrouping with a short break in Delhi. The squad spent a couple of nights there before travelling to Lucknow ahead of their important clash on Sunday. Ricky Ponting revealed that after the loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he intentionally avoided giving an emotional team talk immediately and instead allowed the players some time to mentally recover.
According to Ponting, Punjab Kings now need to rebuild confidence by remembering how dominant and fearless they were during the first half of the tournament. He stressed that the players should focus on their strengths and avoid thinking about failure or recent setbacks. The former Australian captain believes PBKS were at their best when they played aggressive, attacking cricket without fear.
Reflecting on the team’s remarkable rise and sudden dip in form, Ricky Ponting described the opening phase of the season as some of the best T20 cricket he has witnessed from any team he has worked with. He said the side was constantly breaking records and playing a bold, high-risk style that brought excellent results early on.
However, Ricky Ponting admitted that in a highly competitive tournament like the IPL, even a small drop in standards can completely change results. He felt that Punjab Kings have been slightly below their best in several departments during the last six matches, which has contributed to their dramatic fall in momentum.
