Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) impressive journey to the IPL 2025 final ended with defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Despite lacking international experience, PBKS reached the final with a daring approach, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, their only Indian batter with international caps. Key players like Josh Inglis played selectively, and Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis had limited roles throughout the season.
Throughout the tournament, PBKS relied on their fearless young Indian batters who didn’t hesitate to take risks. This approach saw them succeed even after tricky starts, such as being 34 for 3 against Rajasthan Royals but managing to recover.
However, in the final, PBKS’ openers appeared hesitant for the first time. By the fourth over, they were 32 for 0, which was unusually cautious for them. According to coach Ricky Ponting, this was a calculated approach, knowing RCB’s Josh Hazlewood could be powerful upfront. “Maybe a little bit of experience in that middle order today might have helped us out,” Ponting said, acknowledging the young team’s promising future. “But what I know is that we’re going to have these younger guys around this team for a long time and I think they’re going to win us a lot of games.”
The turning point, Ponting noted, came during Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s over. PBKS’ openers played cautiously, gathering just four runs. “It’s really important that the next [over] you go after and try to capitalize on,” Ponting explained. “And we weren’t able to do that.” This reticence became their downfall against RCB’s bowling strength.
On whether PBKS’ approach was due to their earlier struggle against RCB, Ponting dismissed such notions. “I’ve told this group to always take the game forward, always see the positive result,” he emphasized, urging players not to fear getting out. “If you’re worried about getting out, you can’t play the game well.”
Phil Salt’s remarkable catch of Arya marked a crucial moment as PBKS struggled to regain momentum. RCB’s tighter grip on the game highlighted the comeback challenge faced by the spirited PBKS.
