Former India pacer Varun Aaron believes Punjab Kings (PBKS) are showing “real confidence” this season, thanks to a strong system established by head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer. He also highlighted the significant contributions of Indian players in PBKS’ two wins so far.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aaron praised the clear vision set by Ponting and Iyer, both of whom have led IPL-winning teams in the past.
“The whole campaign started with Ricky Ponting making it clear that this is his team and he would approach things his way, without any external interference,” Aaron said. “When you have someone like Ponting working alongside Shreyas Iyer, you get a really strong system, and it’s working well for PBKS.”
PBKS successfully defended 244 in their opening match against Gujarat Titans (GT), with key contributions from Shreyas, Priyansh Arya, and Shashank Singh. In their second game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), they chased down 172, thanks to performances from Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Iyer.
Aaron pointed out that these victories have come largely without major contributions from PBKS’ overseas stars, which is an encouraging sign.
“The Indian players have stepped up. The captain looks solid—calm and authoritative—and the team is reflecting that mindset, along with Ponting’s influence,” Aaron added.
Despite boasting overseas talents like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Lockie Ferguson, and Azmatullah Omarzai, PBKS have managed to secure wins without relying on them. Aaron sees this as a major advantage.
“We know the overseas players will step up at some point and win games. So, if PBKS are already winning without them, it puts them in a great position,” he noted.
Aaron also compared PBKS’ approach to that of successful IPL franchises like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), particularly in how they maintained composure under pressure against GT.
“PBKS have had a history of losing close games from winning positions. But in their first match, they got rid of that baggage. They showed composure under pressure—something we’ve typically seen from teams like CSK and MI, who pull off games at the death. That’s a great sign for them moving forward,” Aaron concluded.
