Prabhsimran Singh has been a part of Punjab Kings since 2019, and over time, the wicketkeeper-batter has grown into one of the most promising young Indian names in the IPL. His breakthrough came in style last season, when he amassed 549 runs and played a major role in PBKS’s charge, even though the franchise fell just short of lifting its maiden title.
The 25-year-old has been quick to acknowledge the role of head coach Ricky Ponting in shaping his recent rise. Prabhsimran said Ponting’s faith in him made a huge difference, especially after the former Australia captain retained both him and Sushant Singh at the mega auction. That early call, he explained, made it clear that Ponting had been backing him for a long time. Once Ponting joined the setup, Prabhsimran’s own performances also began to improve.
“I have a good relationship with Ponting because when he retained Sushant Singh and me in the mega auction, he called and talked to us first,” Prabhsimran Singh said during a media roundtable on Thursday. “It became clear then that he had been liking me for quite some time, and obviously, when he joined the team, my performance also increased.”
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Prabhsimran has carried that confidence into IPL 2026 as well. He has already made useful contributions with scores of 37 off 24 against the Gujarat Titans and 43 off 34 against the Chennai Super Kings, giving the Punjab Kings a strong start at the top. Ponting will be hoping the opener keeps building on this momentum as the tournament progresses.
Another important moment in his PBKS journey came through his conversation with captain Shreyas Iyer. Prabhsimran said Iyer gave him complete clarity about his role in the side and encouraged him to play with freedom.
“When he was appointed as captain of Punjab Kings and when our player-captain meeting happened, he gave me clarity and told me to play like I want and that he was seeing me as a senior player,” he recalled.
That backing has helped Prabhsimran think beyond just personal milestones. He now wants his runs to have more impact on match outcomes, rather than simply adding to his own tally. His focus, he says, is on finishing games and putting Punjab Kings in winning positions.
“I can only say that I used to be out in the 30-40s before. So now I try to play longer,” he said. “Mainly, like we talk about in team meetings, we don’t care if we have to go for the orange cap or the purple cap. You have to make such an impact that you can easily win matches for your team.”
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His growth has also come through off-season work with Yuvraj Singh, which has sharpened his power game. Prabhsimran said those sessions helped him improve his six-hitting while also working on different situations, including batting against both new and old balls. He has also continued to develop as a wicketkeeper, with MS Dhoni serving as his biggest inspiration behind the stumps.
While he insists he does not copy anyone, Prabhsimran Singh said Dhoni’s lightning-fast hands left a lasting impression on him. As for India selection, Prabhsimran knows the road is still challenging, especially with fierce competition for places. Still, he remains motivated by the progress of players around him, including a friend and Punjab teammate, Abhishek Sharma. For now, his goal is simple: keep performing, keep improving, and make the selectors take notice.
