Punjab Kings wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh credits much of his side’s recent batting momentum to the way he has partnered with Priyansh Arya at the top of the order—stressing that their success is built on clear, unselfish game plans and a close relationship that goes well beyond the boundary ropes. In a virtual roundtable conversation on Thursday, Prabhsimran explained how the two-handed approach between the right-hander and left-hander helps them keep momentum flowing, whether that means taking the singles on key moments or accelerating for larger scores.
Opening partnership powered by “unselfish” tactics
Prabhsimran said the key to their productive opening stand is not forcing each other’s roles, but sharing the pressure and the strike intelligently. He noted that it is not always that one partner’s boundaries will be the main driver in every game, and that the best plan often involves rotating strike and setting up the next big over.
- He said that in matches, it is not mandatory for his own batting to be the only reason the partnership works, or for Priyansh to be the one constantly hunting for boundaries.
- Prabhsimran described a scenario where, if he is finding the ball well, Priyansh benefits from him finding singles, allowing the pair to rotate the strike and then look for bigger hits.
- He also outlined the reverse situation: when he is not timing boundaries, it becomes his responsibility to keep the scoreboard moving by giving Priyansh strike through singles so that Priyansh can target bowlers and score in his preferred zones.
- Off the field, he added, they “stay together and talk a lot,” focusing on cricket discussions but also spending time talking about life.
Numbers behind the pair: IPL 2025 and early IPL 2026 form
Prabhsimran and Priyansh have shown strong chemistry across seasons. Together, the right-left opening combination accumulated 532 runs as an opening pair in IPL 2025. Their form has carried into IPL 2026, with Punjab Kings registering two wins featuring them as the front-running duo.
One highlight came against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where the opening stand raced along for a rapid 61-run partnership inside 4.1 overs—setting the tone early and giving Punjab Kings a platform to build on.
Six-hitting progress and the role of Yuvraj Singh
Prabhsimran also reflected on his personal improvement with the bat, particularly his ability to clear the ropes. In IPL 2025, he struck 30 sixes, placing him fifth among the top six-hitters. He attributed the growth in his six-hitting to consistent practice under legendary white-ball batting all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.
- He said he trains for “everything,” including specific preparation for six-hitting.
- Prabhsimran credited regular sessions with Yuvraj Singh as a major factor in his rhythm and confidence.
- He explained that practising for power requires varied methods—working on the ability to hit sixes, play for longer spells, and deal with different deliveries (including both newer and older balls).
- According to him, this variety in training ultimately comes down to technique.
Rivalry among wicketkeepers and learning from MS Dhoni
As a wicketkeeper-batter, Prabhsimran acknowledged the constant competition within the group of peers—naming Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, and Dhruv Jurel. While he maintained that he remains committed to an attacking style of batting, he admitted that his work behind the stumps has been sharpened by observing MS Dhoni.
He clarified that he does not try to copy anyone else’s approach simply because they are senior. Instead, he prefers to keep his own identity as a batter and wicketkeeper, but he said Dhoni’s keeping—particularly the quickness of his hands—left a strong impression.
- He said he cannot claim to copy other wicketkeepers because each player has a distinct style.
- Prabhsimran said he has his own batting style and aims to keep with a similar mindset to Dhoni rather than replicate anyone else’s batting patterns.
- He pointed out that Dhoni’s fast hands “struck a chord,” influencing how he thinks about his own keeping.
Team-first mindset: chasing match wins over personal caps
Prabhsimran concluded by underlining that Punjab Kings values match-winning performances above individual milestones. He said that earlier in his career he often got out in the 30–40 range, and that is why he now tries to bat longer in order to help the team control games.
He also said that, in team discussions, Punjab Kings do not focus on chasing awards like the orange cap or the purple cap. Instead, the priority is creating an impact that makes it easier to win matches for the franchise.
