“It’s pretty funny,” Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin said, smiling as he spoke. “When we go over batting in the meeting room and start talking about rotating the strike, the batters basically look at us and say, ‘We don’t need to do that anymore.’ They’re saying, ‘Just drop it in the second tier.’”
It might have sounded like a bit of dressing-room exaggeration. Yet you can’t dismiss it after Punjab Kings turned a 200-plus chase into something close to a formality for the second match in a row.
Last week in Chennai against Chennai Super Kings, they chased down 209 and made it look as though 20 were missing rather than 209 needed. Then, in New Chandigarh on Saturday against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), they first dragged the contest back from the edge of 250 and eventually chased 220 with seven balls still left. In both games, Shreyas Iyer set the tempo with half-century knocks.
PBKS’ record run chases
Saturday’s success was the tenth time Punjab Kings have reached 200-plus in an IPL chase. It is the most such chases by any franchise in the league, with Mumbai Indians next best on six.
How the chase gained momentum
The groundwork for the Saturday chaseathon came from the top of the order. Priyansh Arya’s performances have steadily pushed the conversation away from the idea of “second-season blues,” while Prabhsimran Singh—leaner and fitter—has grown into a more complete batter. He has added more range to an already fearless style.
Together, the pair smashed out a 99-run stand in only 6.2 overs. Their boldness matched the swagger seen earlier in the day from Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Iyer then walked in and allowed himself a short window to settle. He began with 6 runs from the first six balls, even surviving a near chop-on chance off left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar, before the innings shifted into control mode.
That control wasn’t about grinding out singles. Instead, it was about choosing the right moments with clear execution. One example came in the 15th over, when Iyer lined up and struck Harshal Patel for two fours and a six to spark the final surge. Those blows were not random—slower deliveries at different lengths were read off the hand and the pitch, and punished to separate corners. There was no pre-planning in the shots; it was reaction, timing, and confidence.
The next over brought a similar story for Eshan Malinga. Within minutes, the required rate had been squeezed down to 23 needed from 24 balls. After the chase, Iyer was understated about his own impact and instead credited the openers for establishing a pace that had a ripple effect through the innings.
“At the end of the day, all of us know that we’ve got the skills,” Iyer said. “But in chases like this, it’s important to have the right mindset. As for the openers, we don’t need to tell them how to play it. They’ve been flowing from the start, so there’s no reason to slow down their instincts.
“And once they set a platform like that from ball one, it becomes easier for the rest of us to rotate strike and keep the run rate moving. Overall, our work ethic has been magnificent.”
The approach from the top order stood out to Iyer as well. “The way they showed how to play the powerplay was magnificent to watch. It was pleasing to the eye. They played proper cricketing shots and steadied the rhythm right at the start. From there, it wasn’t exactly easy, but it was more about maintaining the momentum. I told myself I needed a little time, understand the pace of the wicket, and then capitalise. Thankfully, it worked out.”
Team clarity and a culture shift
Iyer makes the method sound straightforward, but it depends on the kind of collective clarity that head coach Ricky Ponting and his staff have been building into the group. Just as important has been the buy-in from the players, with team culture at the heart of the change Punjab Kings have driven since 2025.
“Even during the two-day break we had, everyone came together, trained hard, and worked their bodies off. You can see that effort turning into performances on the field,” Iyer said.
Some of the improvement is also tied to the franchise’s history of near-misses, particularly in 2025. That is why they are not getting carried away, even while holding three wins and a washout from their first four games.
“You’ve got to stay in the present,” Iyer added. “Don’t get too caught up in what has happened or what might happen next. Ricky also places a lot of importance on that. It reflects the character of our team. Last year we came close, and this year we’re aiming for the trophy. But to get there, we’ll need hard work, a proper process, and effort from every individual.”
Haddin’s warning: there’s more to come
For Haddin, there is still a feeling that Punjab Kings have not reached their full potential—something that is especially notable for a team currently sitting in the top three.
“We probably haven’t played our best game yet. We haven’t managed to put everything together, but we are getting the results we want,” Haddin said. “As the tournament goes on, you want to be playing your best cricket, and it’s slowly starting to come together now.”
That, perhaps, is the most unsettling message for the rest of the league: if Punjab Kings are still finding another level while making 200-plus chases look routine, other teams will have to take notice quickly.
