Ricky Ponting has hit back at the mounting criticism and social media backlash directed at Punjab Kings after their dramatic fall in form during IPL 2026. The former Australia captain insists the noise has not seeped into the team’s dressing room, and that the squad is still focused on fixing what has gone wrong.
Punjab Kings began the current mega-auction cycle in a blaze of momentum, winning six of their opening seven matches and quickly positioning themselves among the tournament’s most formidable sides. But the turnaround has been sharp: since late April, their season has stalled completely, and they are now heading into a pivotal encounter against Lucknow Super Giants with a six-game losing run.
Quick facts
- Punja Kings were one of IPL 2026’s strongest teams early, winning six of their first seven matches.
- Since late April, PBKS have suffered a major slump and are on a six-match winless streak.
- PBKS face Lucknow Super Giants in a crucial match after that run.
- They sit fifth in the IPL 2026 points table with 13 points from 13 games.
- One of their matches vs Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned.
- Despite poor form, PBKS are still in the playoff race due to a net run rate of +0.227.
- Competition for the final playoff spot is tightening, involving Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.
At present, Punjab Kings occupy the fifth position in the points standings, collecting 13 points from 13 games. Their record includes one washed-out or abandoned fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders, but even with the recent slide, they remain alive in the playoff picture.
The franchise’s most important cushion is their net run rate, currently at +0.227, which keeps them in contention as the race for the last playoff berth intensifies. With Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals also pushing hard for qualification, PBKS know they cannot afford another slip as they try to pull themselves back into contention.
Ponting on the backlash
As results have deteriorated, scrutiny has followed. Social media criticism has grown louder, with players, team management, and franchise leadership all facing heavy attention. Ponting, however, played down the impact of the online chatter and underlined that the team is managing its internal focus and preparation.
“There haven’t been any off-field things that I’ve had to worry about as a coach. We’ve managed everything the way we need to manage as a team. There’s so much social media out there that one little headline turns into a big story, but that doesn’t affect us,” Ponting said.
He added that the players are clear about the tasks needed to win matches and that the squad keeps moving forward with its cricketing objectives. “We know what we need to do as players to win games of cricket, and we push on with that,” Ponting continued.
Ponting also believes the criticism will fade if Punjab Kings manage to secure a playoff place. “If we qualify, then all this negativity out there about us will go away,” he said, suggesting that results are the quickest antidote to the mounting pressure.
Rebuilding the fearless mindset
Beyond the response to outside noise, Ponting’s message to his team has been about returning to the style that made them dangerous earlier in the season. He urged the players to rediscover the fearless approach that saw PBKS start with such strong momentum.
“It’s pretty simple for us. We’ve got to get back to believing in just how good we are and remember the way we played in our first six or seven games of the season,” Ponting explained.
He stressed that the squad must hold on to those positive memories instead of getting weighed down by fear of failure or worry about not delivering success. “We need to hold on to those thoughts and memories instead of fearing failure or worrying about not having success. At our best, we’ve been the most fearless team in the tournament. We’ve been daring,” he said.
Ponting concluded by pointing directly to the next challenge, stating that he will be reinforcing those themes as PBKS prepare to face Lucknow. “That’s what I’ll be talking about again and making sure we bring those things into the game against Lucknow,” he added.
Punjab Kings will now look to turn Ponting’s spotlight on mindset into match-winning execution, with their qualification hopes hanging in the balance as they confront Lucknow Super Giants.
