IPL 2025: Shreyas-Maxwell's Explosiveness And...? 3 Strengths of PBKS

Muskaan Bhatt

3 Strengths of PBKS (Source:IPL.com/X.com)3 Strengths of PBKS (Source:IPL.com/X.com)

Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have made a bold move to end their long wait for a maiden title, crafting a well-balanced squad under the leadership of new head coach Ricky Ponting. With the largest purse of Rs 110.5 crore, PBKS entered the mega auction and made several marquee signings, including Indian batting star Shreyas Iyer for a record Rs 26.75 crore. 

Iyer, known for his leadership skills, is expected to captain the side and strengthen the middle order. PBKS also bolstered their bowling attack by securing top T20I bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for Rs 18 crore each. Retaining key players like Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, the franchise has addressed critical areas such as top-order batting, finishers, and death-over specialists. With a fresh approach and strategic acquisitions, PBKS are primed for a promising IPL 2025 campaign, aiming to break their cycle of inconsistency and claim the coveted trophy.

In this article we will try and analyse the biggest strengths of PBKS for the upcoming edition of the tournament. Before moving ahead with the analysis, let us look at the IPL 2025 squad of PBKS - 

PBKS Squad For IPL 2025

Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett , Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey

Strengths of Punjab Kings For IPL 2025

3. Ponting-Iyer Duo In-charge

The last time Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer were part of the same IPL team, fireworks happened for the Delhi-based franchise. Shreyas had led the Delhi Capitals squad to their first IPL playoffs in 2019 after seven seasons, where they had finished third in the group before beating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator and eventually losing to Chennai Super Kings in the second Qualifier.

The expectations are high as the duo is together once again, and this time, Shreyas Iyer comes with an IPL trophy. More than the trophy, it's the experience and tactical understanding of the game that the likely captain brings. With a fresh team behind them, the IPL-winning captain and three-time World Cup-winning coach Ricky Ponting would aim to re-script their 2019 heroics with only one change, i.e. winning the IPL 2025 trophy.

2. A Strong Middle-Order

Punjab Kings' decision to start on a fresh note bore fruit as they spent their hefty 110.50 crore purse wisely during the IPL auctions. With eight foreigners in the PBKS squad, Ponting and management strategically spent money on acquiring five Australians: Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, and Xavier Bartlett.

In the previous seasons, Punjab lacked depth in batting, and in this auction, they made sure they bagged plenty of quality all-rounders so as not to make the same mistake. Not just this, Punjab has been a team full of surprises, and that is one of the biggest reasons why stars like Shashank Singh were unearthed. 

Looking at their squad now, PBKS possesses strong players that make up for an explosive middle order. Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell and Shashank Singh are the four key players who will most likely be seen batting in the middle order for the team as they go out all guns blazing.

3. A Vast Variety Of Bowling  

Not just batting, but also in the bowling department, Punjab boasts a diverse array of options. Whether it's IPL's highest wicket-taker, Yuzi Chahal, the towering and menacing Marco Jansen, or the Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson, the Punjab Kings' bowling lineup is a testament to their adaptability and strength.

From fiery pacers like Arshdeep Singh to skilled spinners, the team has strategically picked some excellent choices in the auctions. Moreover, even in terms of backups, the team looks perfectly balanced.