Delhi: Punjab Kings (PBKS) have made it to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs for the first time since 2011. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, the team performed brilliantly and will now face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) or Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur on 29 May. On Monday, 26 May, Punjab Indians (MI) defeated by seven wickets and Punjab Kings confirmed the top two.

In this match held at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Josh English and Priyansh Arya batted brilliantly and completed the target of more than 180 runs with 9 balls left.

Shashank Singh praised credit for credit

In the press conference after the match, Punjab Kings batsman Shashank Singh gave credit for the team’s success to captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. He said that the atmosphere of the dressing room is very positive and everyone is given equal respect.

Shashank said, “On the very first day Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer told us that Yuzvendra Chahal and the bus driver will get the same honor. And really they did the same.”

He further said, “It is a very big thing to give the same respect to Chahal and our bus driver. This makes the team understand the atmosphere.”

Shashank also said that Ricky Ponting has completely changed the culture of the team. “They changed our way of thinking. Rades confidence. They taught us how to respect each other. It is not easy to create such an atmosphere, but they showed it as possible.”

Shashank Singh has scored 284 runs in IPL 2025 so far, that too at a strike rate of 149.47.

Injured Chahal can return to the qualifier

Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could not play the last two league matches against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (Mi) due to injury. He was hurt in a finger. However, it is expected that he will fit before the qualifier 1. Qualifier 1 will be played against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) or Gujarat Titans (GT) on 29 May in Mullanpur.