Punjab Kings might have lost in the IPL final at the Narendra Modi Stadium last season, their spending spree notwithstanding — but their run itself was a watershed moment. The team’s rejuvenation under a new vision has set them up well to push further to win their first IPL title.
Speaking in a recent engagement, Haddin credited the culture that has been built within the squad as well as how clear their game plan is. Where he sees one of the biggest positives this year is in energy inside the group. And many of the younger players who experienced their first taste of life in the IPL last season have come back more confident and mature. The coaches have been impressed with their maturity and competitiveness on the field.
Ricky Ponting made a huge transition for Punjab Kings with his leadership and allowed the side to have a significant identity. So, it was all about playing an aggressive and entertaining brand of cricket but also building trust within the group. The players did respond, scoring consistently and leading the franchise to its first final since 2014.
Recruitment was central to this reset. Management emphasized not just talent but character and team balance. But bringing Shreyas Iyer as captain was a master stroke. Haddin praised Iyer’s captaincy, describing him as tactically astute and someone who truly cares about every player in the squad. He has success in relating with both veteran players and others from a younger generation, which helped foster a good atmosphere at the club.
So did Punjab’s trust in young Indian talent. But there were inputs from players such as Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera, who made their presence felt while batting. The management hadn’t been surprised by their success, having selected and supported them at the auction.
Reflecting on real key moments from the last season, Haddin noted how mentally the boys hung tough through peaks and troughs. Regardless of whether it was chasing down a monstrous total and losing or defending a low score, the players knew they were doing something right and did not waver from their methodology.
Haddin clarified the controversial decision to release Josh Inglis and said it was a purely availability-based decision. Simply put: The management decided to focus on players who could fully commit to this season.
Punjab Kings are not resting on past success as they look ahead. Data and analytics are still a piece in the puzzle but working to continuously evolve them takes priority. The team is keen to build on the momentum from last year and take the final step in lifting their first IPL trophy.
