According to Piyush Chawla, the clinical performance of PBKS against LSG this season has “completely changed the look of the Punjab Kings.”

Piyush Chawla, a former Indian spinner, was gushing over Punjab’s strategy and Iyer’s leadership, saying the team is strong and different and is predicted to accomplish something significant this season.

With victories in both of their opening games, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have gotten off to a fantastic start in their IPL 2025 campaign and are now serious candidates for the championship. They recently won by a commanding eight wickets over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Against LSG, the team made the 172-run chase appear simple. Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer formed an 84-run partnership after Singh’s impressive 69 off 34 balls. Alongside Nehal Wadhera, who hammered a scorching 43* off 25 balls, the Mumbai batsman led the team home with an undefeated 52 from 30 deliveries.

After this victory, Punjab is now only behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru in second place in the standings. The team has appeared to be extremely well-balanced under Iyer’s direction, with players stepping up when it matters most.

“Iyer constantly thinks differently because he is skilled at figuring out how to win. Since a leader is only as good as the players who support him, a captain’s success also depends on the setup surrounding him. In the auction, Punjab Kings assembled a well-rounded team, covering all their bases. Nehal Wadhera, who in as an impact player, played a vital knock, and their middle order is powerful. Having depth on the bench allows you to be flexible and have reliable backups. Because of this, the Punjab Kings appear to be a totally different team this season,” Chawla stated on JioStar.

Arshdeep did a fantastic job in his role: Kane Williams

Punjab’s early success has been largely attributed to their bowling assault, which is spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh. Against LSG, the left-arm bowler put on another outstanding display, taking three wickets, including Mitchell Marsh early on. Kane Williamson, the star batsman for New Zealand, talked about Arshdeep’s capacity to adjust to different situations and contribute when called upon.

He has been a member of the Indian team for a while and is a very good bowler. He knew that seam bowlers would succeed on that surface if they were patient and hit the appropriate spots. In addition to taking important wickets, Arshdeep would have had a genuinely outstanding day if he had taken three or four wickets for 20 runs, which would have exceeded everyone’s expectations. His early innovation was crucial; firing Mitchell Marsh, who has been providing his team with excellent starts, had a significant effect. The game’s mood is frequently set by controlling the powerplay, and Arshdeep did a fantastic job in both the opening and last overs, Williamson remarked.

Piyush Chawla also discussed LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who has had a lacklustre batting campaign thus far.

The southpaw has only amassed 17 runs in three innings, including a six-ball duck against the Delhi Capitals. The former leg spinner discussed if Pant’s performance has suffered as a result of the high price tag.

Knowing Rishabh Pant, I don’t believe that the cost is having an impact on him. He isn’t playing at his best right now, though. There were huge expectations for him going into this competition as a franchise captain because he had not played on the Indian white-ball circuit. Naturally, a lot was expected of him this season because of everything that transpired last year.

Unfortunately, his personal form and his team’s campaign haven’t gotten off to a good start. It was especially regrettable that he was dismissed tonight because he found the fielder at short fine leg with a ball that could have been put away anywhere. He appears to be aware that he is going through a difficult time where things aren’t going his way, based on his subsequent response and that knowing smile,” Chawla said.