Let’s be real, if you’re a Punjab Kings (PBKS) fan, IPL history begins with heartache instead of celebration. There’s been exits, a sprinkling of wonder, and a lot of subtleties to make me wish PBKS could be that legendary underdog that gets over the lane. Something feels different in 2025. They’ve led the table, their stars are shining, and the trophy itself doesn’t feel too far away. So, has it arrived for PBKS? Let’s chat.
Fearless Firepower: The Inglis-Arya Factor
A significant difference this season is the batting power of Punjab–and it starts with Josh Inglis and Priyansh Arya, two adept*, aggressive hitters of the painted ball. Inglis showcases a level of Aussie aggression but with no internal obstacles. According to expert Speaker 4: Josh plays “fearless”, but with a “clear head”, which shows through in all his clutch battles.
Now we come to Priyansh Arya: his 100 runs off 39 balls in an earlier match attracted a lot of attention, but his most recent performance in a high-pressure game was remarkable for its maturity and composure. As Tom put it, Arya “stuck to his gameplan” and constricted his game to “just another game of cricket.” That’s the mark of a future match-winner – everything PBKS needed for a long time – an Indian core that plays well under pressure.
Inglis and Arya are not just scoring runs; they are also complementing each other, sizing the game up, using as much time as they require, putting together the shots they want, taking the pressure off the middle order, and messing with the oppositional rhythm. For once, PBKS are not depending on 1 or 2 players, they have built a batting unit that can operate across environments and situations.
Bowling with Brains: Arshdeep & Janssen Show the Way
Every good team has bowlers who can win matches, and Punjab finally has a balanced, intelligent attack. I think Arshdeep Singh has been steady, moving from a good fast bowler to the current preferred death bowler. This means that he is good enough to be preferred in the death overs, and he knows perfectly how to slow down batters. He gets to know each batter, learns what they want to do.
Marco Janssen has added the next layer of confusion with his awkward bounce and angle. It isn’t solely down to talent, though—they are executing perfectly under pressure. As our second speaker mentioned, they have a great grip on how to bowl with slower balls, and Miubai’s bowlers did not use enough slower balls. The pace bowlers are opening up angles but are great at changing up their pace in the middle overs (which is vital to restricting), and using angles in the middle overs for restricting runs.
Read More: Why PBKS’ Bowling Crisis Could Cost Them the Playoffs
The Mindset Shift: From Hopefuls to Contenders
This is not just a team playing good cricket – this is a team that believes. We see it in the body language, the clarity in the roles, and the way they finish games. There is no panic; there is no scrambling for Plan B. They know their jobs, and the dugout looks confident instead of tense.
It is worth a quick mention of their recruitment. With some big names like Rickelton and Will Jacks unavailable, they have seamlessly slotted in replacements, which is another point Tom mentioned in the post-match comments. That shows solid management and planning.
They are sitting at the top of the table with two opportunities to qualify for the final, and you could not have asked for a better occasion to qualify for the first time in franchise history. As Dustin said, it is never easy to predict a final win this time of the season, but PBKS looks like the team that gets to finally show up!
Will they break their drought and lift their first IPL trophy? Who knows? The one thing for sure is that it is different this time around. So, what do you all think, is this the year that PBKS is going all the way, or is they have another twist waiting for them?
To catch up on the most current news on all of your favorite thrilling cricket updates, visit Six6slive to access our comprehensive Latest News, insightful analysis, and updates. Connect with the action now to make sure you never miss out!