Prabhsimran Singh has been a part of Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab, since 2019 when the IPL franchise spent Rs 4.8 crore on the youngster. Over the past few seasons, the hard-hitting batter has found consistency, with Ricky Ponting playing a big role. NEW DELHI: On Thursday night, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer hailed Prabhsimran Singh for “raising the bar”. The 26-year-old lit up the Wankhede Stadium with his outstanding strokeplay as he slammed an unbeaten 39-ball 80 against Mumbai Indians to take the Punjab Kings home. With this win, Punjab Kings have topped the IPL 2026 points table.Amidst all the buzz surrounding teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the six-hit prowess of Priyansh Arya, who is also Prabhsimran’s opening partner, the Patiala-born batsman is quietly going about his business – one knock at a time. Prabhsimran played a key role in Punjab Kings reaching the final last season, scoring 549 runs at a strike rate of 160.53.“I think he has definitely raised his bar considering last season where he was going in the power game, he was just swinging wildly. Even when he got runs, he gave us excellent starts. But this time I feel he is mature enough to finish the game,” Iyer said in the post-match presentation, praising Prabhsimran.“And it’s great to see the lads coming in and finishing games, taking responsibility and saying ok, I’m going to win the game for the team. So a phenomenal player, talent and besides I feel the more games he has, the (more) he’s actually maturing,” he added.The 25-year-old has been a part of Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab, since 2019 when the Mohali-based franchise spent Rs 4.8 million on the youngster.In the early years, the teenager did not get many chances. He played just nine games in his first six years. It is from IPL 2023 that he started playing regularly. He scored 358 runs and 334 runs in IPL 2023 and 2024, but consistency was an issue.Ahead of IPL 2025, Ricky Ponting called Prabhsimran Singh, gave him confidence and also gave him a task.“The task was to work on his cut and pull shots. Our academy timings are from 3.30 pm but Prabhsimran used to come at 1.30 pm and he worked really hard on his bat during those six weeks before the IPL,” Kamalpreet Sandhu, Prabhsimran’s coach, told TimesofIndia.com.Last season’s performances helped him get selected in the India A squad to face Australia A in September. He seized the opportunity by smashing 102 off 68 balls in the third unofficial ODI to help India A seal the series 2–1.Ahead of IPL 2026, Ponting gave him another task, this time to avoid dropping wickets in the 30s and 40s.“That was his problem. He used to hit wickets quickly and then get out. Ponting advised him that since his game against spin was good, he could take an over or two after the over. He told him that if Sandhu stayed till the 16th or 17th over, his strike rate would not drop. It was all about confidence,” Kamalpreet said.In five games this season, the 26-year-old scored 211 runs at 173, including two fifties. He is currently among the top five scorers.A rare talentFrom an early age, Prabhsimran was known as a hard hitter in Punjab. The Patiala native was so talented that during an Under-14 match at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium, after he smashed a couple of sixes, the late DP Azad, then chairman of the coaching committee of the Punjab Cricket Association, remarked that he was too good for the U-14s and did not allow him to continue in that tournament.“In 2012, Sir Azad selected 20 under-14s from six districts. I was the coach of Patiala under-14. Anmolpreet Singh, Prabhsimran Singh and Mayank Markande were in Patiala under-14, while Shubman Gill and Nehal Wadhera were in Ludhi Mohali respectively.“In one of the matches at Dhruv Pandave Stadium, Prabhsimran smashed eight sixes in the first three overs. Azad sir refused to believe that the kid was only 11 or 12. After two matches, he said Prabhsimran was too good for that level and other kids shouldn’t be worried,” said Kamalpreet Sandhu.“I still remember the words of Mr. DP Azad: ‘Kamal, take care of this boy, he is special.’ He had natural strength, strong wrists and hit the ball with immense power,” said Kamalpreet Sandhu, who runs the Cricket Hub Academy.Kamal said there were several moments that changed Prabhsimran as an individual. The former was overlooked for the 2018 U19 World Cup, which India won under Prithvi Shaw. A dejected Prabhsimran vented his frustration by scoring 298 in the Punjab U-23 inter-district tournament. He smashed 29 fours and 13 sixes during his 301-ball stay.This knock helped him get the attention of IPL scouts and Punjab Kings spent Rs 4.8 crore on the youngster.“Mr DP Azad gave us Kapil Dev. One look at Prabhsimran was enough for him to know that the boy was special. Then Ponting took his cricket to the next level in the last 16 months,” Sandhu said.The second defining moment was when Ponting became the head coach of the Punjab Kings. After the win against MI, the former Australian captain said on JioHotstar, “When the players feel supported, like someone like Prabhsimran or Shashank (Singh), the performances respond and that’s what ultimately leads to results.”More than a decade ago, DP Azad noticed something special about the right-armer, which years later the former Australian captain took to another level.Another consistent season at the top will keep Prabhsimran Singh in contention for the India call-up. With the Men in Blue slated to play over 40 T20Is before the 2028 Summer Olympics, Prabhsimran will challenge the likes of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya in this run as he has also matured as a cricketer along with his six-strikes.
