OUR MINDSET IS JUST TO GIVE OUR BEST IN EVERY GAME” – PRABHSIMRAN SINGH ON PBKS’ STRATEGY AS TEAMS RACE TO THE TATA IPL PLAY-OFFS

Bengaluru – 30th April, 2025: As the TATA IPL 2025 heads into a crucial race to Play-offs to the play-offs, Punjab Kings batter Prabhsimran Singh spoke exclusively on Star Sports Press Room about his journey, the team’s mindset, and the trust shown by the franchise. From mental resilience to key influences like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, Prabhsimran reflected on what’s driving him and the Punjab Kings at this critical stage.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports Press Room with Punjab Kings, Prabhsimran Singh spoke about Punjab Kings’ mindset heading into the crucial ‘Race to Play-offs’ phase of the TATA IPL, especially given the franchise hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2014:

“There’s no special planning— we’re taking it one match at a time. The only goal is to play our best cricket. If we focus on that, the results will take care of themselves. It’s simple — whichever team plays better on the day, wins. So our mindset is just to give our best in every game. Yes, we haven’t qualified in recent years, but every season brings new players, and every 2-3 years there’s a mega auction, so the team keeps changing. At the back of our minds, of course, there’s a desire to qualify and win the trophy — we take that as motivation. But we don’t carry the baggage of the past. Even if we don’t qualify, nothing ends — we’ll come back stronger. Our thinking is positive, and our captain and coach are also positive-minded people. That helps us stay focused and avoid negative thoughts.”

Prabhsimran Singh spoke about Punjab Kings Head Coach Ricky Ponting’s message and the team’s trust around his retention:

“When Punjab Kings retained me, I got a message from Ricky Ponting. We were playing the Emerging Asia Cup at that time — I spoke to him there. He wanted me to stay; that’s why they retained me. I was very happy because when I scored a 100 against Delhi Capitals in the IPL, he was the Delhi Capitals coach. We met after that match, and he told me I had a bright future. I spoke to him only once, and then again before being retained. I’ve been with Punjab Kings for seven years. They have trusted me — now it’s my turn to pay them back. I’ve strengthened myself mentally; the effort remains the same for the team”.

Prabhsimran also spoke about mental motivation and learning from Sachin Tendulkar:

“It’s been seven years. But if you see my record, I didn’t play for the first four years — I used to get only one match. So there was pressure. I used to get very frustrated and would go to the gym and run 7–8 km. I spoke to Sachin sir once when I wasn’t playing. I asked him how to deal with sitting out for so long in such a big tournament. He told me, ‘I didn’t sit out much, but if you’ve come this far, think of how much you can learn from here. Many players would want to be where you are.’ That changed my perspective — I started believing that if it doesn’t happen now, it will happen next time.”

Prabhsimran also spoke on Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and what makes him different:

“Shreyas Iyer has won a lot of tournaments, including the last TATA IPL. He’s a very experienced player and has also won at the ICC and domestic levels. What makes him different is that when there’s a decision that the rest of us are unsure about, he confidently takes that call. Many of those decisions have ended up helping us win. Most importantly if a player has a bad day, he talks to them. When your captain tells you, ‘we’re backing you,’ it gives you confidence. He’s one of the best captains I’ve ever played with.”

Prabhsimran also spoke on advice he received from Yuzvendra Chahal and the vibe in the Punjab Kings dressing room:

“Yuzvendra Chahal told me before the Chennai match that it would be a slow track. I was already scoring 35–40 runs consistently, giving good starts. He told me, ‘You’re giving good starts, but if you think a little for yourself too, cricket will open up more for you.’ He said my strike rate never drops, so even if I take a few extra balls, it’s okay. Before the Chennai match, Yuzi Bhai told me the pitch would be slow, and if I take some time initially, I can take on any bowler. I gave him credit for that performance, and talking about the Punjab Kings team, there’s only one rule: there’s no ‘if’. If you want to do something, just do it. And the best thing is, everyone is happy with each other’s performance. If someone has a bad day, everyone supports them — so the vibe is really good.”

Catch Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings at 7:30 PM on April 30, as teams race to the TATA IPL play-offs, live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network