Punjab Kings are a Strong Contender in IPL 2026: Aakash Chopra

Mumbai (Maharashtra), April 7 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has praised Punjab Kings (PBKS) as a strong contender in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. He highlighted their impressive batting line-up, which relies on young Indian players, and commended the team’s management under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting.

Last season, PBKS finished second, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final. In IPL 2026, they started with two wins and shared a point with Kolkata Knight Riders due to a rain-interrupted match.

Chopra noted that Punjab Kings’ batting is their standout feature, with young players like Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya contributing significantly despite limited international experience. Captain Shreyas Iyer led the team’s scoring with 604 runs in IPL 2025.

While their bowling isn’t the strongest, it gets the job done, Chopra said. He also praised the leadership of Iyer and Ponting. The expert felt PBKS were unlucky to lose the no-result game, as they likely would have won based on their form.

PBKS will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 on April 11. (ANI)