Project Punjab isn't a failure, but it needs a few tweaks after IPL 2025 heartbreak

India Today

2 days ago

When Ricky Ponting took over as the coach of Punjab Kings, one of the things that stood out from his first few words after taking the role was simple. He uttered two words that was ringing across all platforms and pundits. That was 'Project Punjab.'Now, we have seen many teams implement projects with a long-term planning. And to be honest, Punjab weren't a side that used to do it in the previous years. They have had a total of 17 captains in 18 seasons, including Shreyas Iyer and many coaches have also come and gone. But for the first time, you can sense that Punjab are on to something big.advertisementThey invested money in a big squad with world-class talent, none more than their skipper Shreyas. The man who was bought for a whopping 26.75 Crores repaid it with his batting, captaincy and intent. The backing of young talent by the franchise and Ponting was a treat to watch.
However, in the end, the IPL 2025 title wasn't theirs. But that doesn't mean that Project Punjab is a failure. But they need to make some small tweaks to a team that came close to being champions.Handling pressure in the middleWhen you look at where Punjab lost the IPL 2025 final to RCB, it all comes down to how the batters failed to gain momentum after the wickets of Shreyas and Josh Inglis. And that has been something that has happened multiple times. Virender Sehwag, in his analysis on Cricbuzz, said that Punjab need to learn how to handle that pressure of wickets falling and they failed to do it in the final.advertisement"Scores like 24, 26, 39, 15 everyone got a start, but no one converted it. Had someone carried it to 60–70 runs, they would've won the match. What Shashank did later—if he had done that earlier, then that slowdown phase in the middle wouldn't have happened. If he had remained not out and someone else was batting from the other end, runs would've kept coming, and there would've been no pressure.""The pressure comes when wickets fall. That's the biggest pressure. Then your hands start shaking—'What if I go for a shot and get out?' That's why they couldn't go for it. Like Nihal Wadhera made 15 runs off 18 balls—if he had scored 26 off those same 18 balls, Punjab would've won the match right there. That's the pressure of a final—the pressure of losing wickets. Under that pressure, those who play well shine, and those who don't, stay where they are.""This was probably their first final; they didn't have that experience. It was the first time they were in such a situation. Reaching this stage in a league game under pressure is one thing, but facing that situation in a final is entirely different. I think that's what was lacking. Even if one of the top three batters had stayed and played deep, I would still say the start wasn't bad," said Sehwag.advertisementSo, this is an area they will have to focus on. While they have some big-hitters, someone with flexibility and the skill to get a 400-run season could be what Punjab will need next season.Finding a bowling leaderApart from Arshdeep Singh, who had 21 wickets, there were no other PBKS bowlers who were in the top 10. This is an issue when you are looking to win the title. Even for Arshdeep, he is still learning the trade and gaining experience when it comes to leading an attack in the IPL.Yuzvendra Chahal also had a hot and cold season and Punjab lacked a leader, especially once Marco Jansen left for international duty. They will need a pacer or a spinner to come in, who can elevate the bowlers around him and let them go about with their business of taking wickets.Josh Hazlewood did that expertly with RCB, as he allowed the rest to reap the rewards of the pressure he created. So, someone of the same mould is what PBKS will needadvertisementAvoiding the second-season syndromeLike players, teams also face the second-season syndrome in the IPL. KKR and SRH were finalist last year and in 2025, they were nowhere close to being in the playoffs. Punjab also knows this well as they went on a dry run of 11 years after reaching the final in 2014.For this, Punjab need to avoid the fault of staying stagnant and not evolving. They introduced a high-intent approach this season, but it will need some tempering and improvement the next time they come in for the IPL.Maybe a bit more maturity from their uncapped openers and the middle order could help them going forward. Keeping this in mind, certainly Project Punjab is off to a fine start. Now the thing is all about consistency and being a regular in the playoffs and finals.As Shreyas said after the game, the aim is to get the trophy next season. For that to happen, Punjab will need to improve their side, with a few small tweaks.Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!