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Punjab Kings' impressive start to IPL 2026 has been no accident, according to head coach Ricky Ponting, who revealed that the franchise deliberately rebuilt
its squad around players he specifically wanted to work with - with captain Shreyas Iyer topping that list.
PBKS have begun the season strongly with two consecutive wins, continuing the momentum they built last year. Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live', Ponting explained how retaining just two players allowed him to reshape the squad from the ground up.
"The toss went our way again, and we were really keen to chase on that pitch. It looked like a belter of a wicket with a little bit of grass on it, something that we're not used to seeing in Chennai," Ponting said on JioStar.
He highlighted how the franchise focused on building around young Indian talent, supported by experienced overseas players.
"Some of our young Indian talent, the guys at the top of the order, are pretty special. To build some of those Aussie guys around them, we had a really clear strategy going into the auction last year about trying to rebuild this whole team from the bottom up, and change and be different as a franchise. "
Ponting revealed that retaining only a couple of players gave him flexibility to assemble a squad aligned with his vision.
"By just keeping Prabhsimran and Shashank, it gave us an opportunity for me to pick the guys that I wanted to work with. Shreyas was obviously number one on the list. "
He also stressed the importance of securing quality Indian players as the backbone of the squad.
"But it was really important to get the highest-quality Indian players into our team with Arshdeep and Yuzi. So far, so good. We're happy, but you can't afford to be too happy in a tournament like this. "
Continuity and Culture Driving PBKS Success
Ponting also credited team continuity as a major factor behind Punjab's strong start.
"We had a 10-day camp, and even the overseas boys coming in, the moment they sat down, they said 'this just feels like we haven't left, it feels exactly like it was last year. '"
Maintaining stability within the squad and coaching staff, he explained, has helped create a strong environment.
"We've got one change to our coaching staff, and we brought in only three new players. On the back of what was a successful season for us last year, I wanted to do that, create an environment and a culture, which is the hardest thing to do in the IPL. "
Why Harpreet Brar Hasn't Featured Yet
Ponting also addressed the absence of Harpreet Brar from the playing XI so far this season.
"If you look at the balance of our side at the moment, particularly on a good wicket like that, it's really hard to fit that second spinner in," he explained.
He acknowledged Brar's performances but suggested team balance has limited opportunities.
"Harpreet Brar had a terrific domestic season, and he was really good in the games he played for us last year. His batting has really come a long way as well. "
However, he admitted bringing him into the side will require a difficult selection call.
"So he's an all-rounder just sitting there, waiting for the right conditions so we can bring him into the side. But when we do, it's going to be a tough call. "
With Punjab Kings building early momentum, Ponting's long-term squad strategy appears to be paying dividends.
