As the Punjab Kings prepare for their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the team finds themselves in an unexpected position of uncertainty regarding their opening batting combination.
Despite completing an extensive pre-season preparation camp and assembling a formidable squad under new captain Shreyas Iyer, Punjab’s coaching staff remains undecided on who will face the first delivery of their campaign.
Assistant coach Brad Haddin confirmed this surprising development during Monday’s pre-match press conference, revealing that multiple options are still under consideration.
“We are not sure who opens yet. We have got guys like Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis who have done it well in the past as well. So we have to make sure that we get the right combination,” Haddin stated, leaving fans and analysts speculating about who will face Gujarat’s fearsome opening bowling attack spearheaded by international stars Kagiso Rabada and Mohammad Siraj.
The uncertainty at the top of the order contrasts with the overall confidence emanating from the Punjab Kings camp regarding their preparations. The franchise conducted a specialized training camp in Dharamsala that reportedly impressed the coaching staff.
“I think the key focus for us since we’ve got here is to get our players ready for the season. We had a good camp in Dharamsala, where we got to know a lot of our Indian players, and we’re very excited about the talent we have. They’re very athletic, they’re going to be a brave cricket team,” Haddin emphasized.
This season marks a significant transition for Punjab Kings with the appointment of legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting as head coach and Indian international Shreyas Iyer taking over captaincy duties. The team has strategically constructed a versatile squad capable of adapting to various match situations.
“We want to make sure that they play brave cricket and as per the situation in front of them. This is a new group. We have players in every position we needed who can adapt to play in different roles. I think we’ve got experience right through,” Haddin added.
The assistant coach reserved special praise for captain Iyer, crediting him with fostering a positive team environment despite being relatively new to the franchise. Iyer, who previously led Delhi Capitals to an IPL final in 2020, brings valuable leadership experience to a Punjab side that has historically struggled for consistency.
“I think the culture is driven from our leaders. We have a very driven captain in Shreyas Iyer who has had a lot of success in this format of the game. He has brought everyone together. The staff is on the same page as the players. We are a really tight group, but it’s been led by the standards and the habits that the captain sets,” Haddin concluded.
The Punjab Kings will be eager to start their campaign positively against a Gujarat Titans side that won the IPL in their debut season in 2022 and finished as runners-up in 2023. Tuesday’s fixture represents the first significant test for Punjab’s revamped management structure and playing personnel as they look to challenge for their first IPL title.