Kings of Punjab (Getty Images) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the Punjab Kings are finally “moving in the right direction” after making smart and bold decisions at the auction table, raising hopes of ending their long wait for the Indian Premier League (IPL) title.Speaking at IPL Today Live, Pathan highlighted how the franchise has shown a renewed clarity in both leadership and team building. Punjab Kings finished second last season and narrowly lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.
Watch
Ajit Agarkar is knocking on BCCI’s door asking for a huge extension | World Cup
A clear leader in Punjab’s turnaround
“Management has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you always get what you want, but they did and got to the final,” he said.Smart auction is key to Punjab’s risePathan pointed out that the franchise has not shied away from taking tough calls, including sacking under-performers like Glenn Maxwell, while strengthening their bench.“They took bold but important calls… and now you see all-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis along with a young Indian batting core. They also pounced on Shreyas Iyer after deciding he would be the captain. The thinking is clear and I feel Punjab have started moving in the right direction,” he said.
Punjab Kings in IPL 2025
Punjab Kings have enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025 and have emerged as one of the most consistent teams of the season. Led by Shreyas Iyer, they topped the league stage and advanced to the finals, marking their first title challenge since 2014. The team displayed remarkable composure with Iyer leading from the front with the bat, finishing with 604 runs, while Arshdeep Singh led the bowling attack with 21 wickets. Punjab’s journey included a memorable win in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians after falling short of RCB in Qualifier 1 to secure a place in the final, but ultimately fell short of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. Despite the loss, the 2025 season signaled a major turnaround for the franchise, establishing itself as a true contender and laying a solid foundation for future success.
