Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that the Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) biggest challenge in IPL 2025 will be to figure out a way to qualify for the playoffs as well. He said whether the inclusion of Shreyas Iyer as captain would help them achieve that as well. However, PBKS finished ninth in IPL 2024, winning only five of their 14 league games as well. Notably, they spent a massive ₹26.75 crore to acquire Shreyas for the IPL 2025 and named him their captain as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The first thing is that they have assembled a good squad, but will they perform? There is some problem with that. The squad is never that bad and they play a very entertaining brand of cricket as well, lose continuously at the start, begin winning continuously in the end, and then they just fall short. After winning a lot of hearts, their hearts break in the end for sure. So can they change that in Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy? It’s a big challenge. The other thing is the belief. If you start well, you get on a roll. However, what will they do if they don’t get a good start and go on a losing streak? That is a question they will have to answer.”
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However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the Punjab Kings do not have too many good Indian batters apart from Shreyas Iyer in their IPL 2025 squad as well.
“The Indian batting department seems slightly weak to me. When I try to make their XI, one option is to open with both uncapped Indians – not a great idea. Shreyas Iyer is your rockstar Indian batter, but who apart from him? Only Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh are seen. Shashank Singh is outstanding, but one great season. We don’t know anything apart from that. Nehal Wadhera is good, but still slightly unproven. Prabhsimran Singh blows hot, blows cold. Then Priyansh Arya. I see a slight lack of depth in the Indian batting department, and that is a challenge,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
