No Jansen, no problem? Time for Arshdeep Singh to be Punjab Kings' hero in Qualifier 1

India Today

6 days ago

For the first time since 2014, the Punjab Kings are back in the IPL Qualifier 1 - and for once, it doesn't feel like a team haunted by history. No ghosts are lurking in the dressing room, no scars of seasons squandered. This is a side rebuilt under the calm, composed leadership of Shreyas Iyer and the tactical sharpness of head coach Ricky Ponting. They arrive at the business end of the tournament not as underdogs, but as genuine contenders, fueled by belief and balance.advertisementAt the heart of their stirring resurgence is Arshdeep Singh. A PBKS loyalist for seven seasons now, he has grown from a promising left-arm pacer into the face of their bowling attack. Now, on the eve of their biggest match in over a decade, Arshdeep finds himself at the center of it all - burdened with expectation but built for the moment.Yet, even with momentum on their side, Punjab's path to the final isn't without its bumps. Chief amongst them: the absence of South African pace all-rounder Marco Jansen, who has flown back home for national duties ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia on June 11.
Also Read: PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, Predicted XIs: Will Hazlewood, Chahal return?Jansen's departure is more than just a missing name on the team sheet. It's a tactical and psychological loss. His towering presence with the ball - especially in the powerplay and death overs - offered both penetration and control. With the bat, he added valuable lower-order muscle. Simply put, Jansen bowled the hardovers, hit cleanly down the order, and gave this team flexibility.advertisementNow, Punjab must recalibrate without one of their most complete players - and they must do it on the biggest night of their season till now.New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, a late entrant to the squad, has shown early promise, but he'll need to find rhythm with the new ball quickly to make a real impact. Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai could also slot in for Jansen, but his numbers - five wickets in five games at an economy of 10.60 - don't scream assurance. Marcus Stoinis has had a quiet time with the ball and remains an unknown quantity in high-pressure spells.Which brings us back to Arshdeep Singh. With the burden of Jansen's absence and the unpredictability of his support cast, the onus is once again on the left-arm pacer from Punjab. For years, he has been Punjab's project. On Thursday night, he might just have to be their saviour.ARSHDEEP THE BOWLING CAPTAIN
Arshdeep Singh has been a key member of PBKS' bowling setup. Courtesy: PTI
Eighteen crore rupees. That's what Punjab Kings shelled out to bring Arshdeep Singh back into the fold using the right-to-match card. Season after season, he has grown - not just as a bowler, but as the team's most trusted pace option. With 18 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.56, Arshdeep hasn't merely topped the charts for PBKS - he has led the bowling unit from the front.advertisementBig games demand big players, and Arshdeep has made a habit of showing up when it counts. In Dharamsala, against the power-packed Lucknow Super Giants, he delivered a clinic with the new ball. After Punjab piled on a daunting 236, Arshdeep ripped through LSG's top order inside five overs. His dismissal of Nicholas Pooran - an angled full delivery trapping him LBW - was surgical. He ended that night with 3 for 16, his best of the season.But even the best stumble. In the clash against Rajasthan Royals, he was taken apart by Yashasvi Jaiswal - 22 runs off the opening over set the tone. Arshdeep conceded 60 in four overs, 38 of them in his first two. It could have broken many. Instead, he returned in the 19th with ice in his veins, conceding just eight when the Royals needed 30 off 12. That over sealed a 10-run win and showed what separates him from the rest.advertisementHis most telling spell, though, came when the stakes were highest. In a virtual knockout against Mumbai Indians, Arshdeep was tasked with shutting down a late surge. He bowled the final over and gave away just three runs while taking two wickets, snuffing out Mumbai's finish and setting up an easy chase for Punjab - one that confirmed their spot in the playoffs.Yet, Arshdeep's value cannot be boxed into columns of runs and wickets. He's Punjab's unofficial bowling captain - setting fields, strategising match-ups, guiding young bowlers, and anchoring in-game decisions. If Iyer is the general, Arshdeep is his lieutenant in charge of the troops with the ball.Marco Jansen, now absent from the squad but once Arshdeep's new-ball partner, offered insight into the camaraderie."He's a funny guy," Jansen said. "I can hear him a mile away From out of nowhere [he'll say] 'Marco, yaar,' and I'll just go, 'Arsh, yaar.' I really enjoyed working with him. I didn't expect him to be so open about sharing local knowledge - how wickets behave, what the ball does - but his inputs were very, very helpful."advertisementThat voice - loud in the huddle and precise in its messaging - is now the one Punjab Kings will lean on more than ever.SUPPORTING CAST FOR ARSHDEEP
Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 14 wickets from 11 games in IPL 2025. Courtesy: PTI
Around Arshdeep, the picture is a blend of promise and uncertainty. Yuzvendra Chahal, with 14 wickets in 11 games, was Punjab's trump card in the middle overs before a wrist niggle benched him late in the league phase. At Mullanpur, he was deadly - five wickets, two four-wicket hauls, and a knack for striking when it mattered. Yet, his availability remains clouded.Marco Jansen, who handled the crucial overs in both the powerplay and at the death, and picked up 16 wickets, is now gone. Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar has impressed in bursts. Nine wickets in six appearances at an economy of 8.50 make a strong case, but spin hasn't been PBKS's central philosophy this season - they've bowled just 72.5 overs of spin in the league phase, the second-lowest among all teams.advertisementThe weight, then, falls heavier on the shoulders of Arshdeep Singh.BIGGEST STAGE AWAITS
Punjab Kings have returned to playing in the playoffs after 11 years. Courtesy: PTI
Now comes the moment that could define his IPL career. Punjab Kings face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 - a blockbuster clash with a direct ticket to the IPL final on the line.No Marco Jansen. No second pacer in searing form. Just Arshdeep - armed with the ball, the plan, and the pressure.A year ago, Arshdeep helped India lift their second T20 World Cup title in Barbados. Now, if Punjab Kings are to reach their first final in 11 years, he will have to be more than just their most reliable bowler - he will have to be their hero.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!Tune InMust Watch
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