Shreyas Iyer stated on Friday that the Punjab Kings are concentrating on fostering good camaraderie off the field in preparation for the Indian Premier League 2026 season, adding that his “eye is on the trophy.”
Iyer emphasized the value of teamwork in the early stages of the competition while speaking at the team’s jersey unveiling event in Mohali.
“This is the period where we live as a family for two months. The more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other. Now is the time where we build that camaraderie,” Iyer said.
“We spend most of our time in the game room, playing FIFA and other games. The planning and plotting for matches usually happens a day or two before the game, but building this bond off the field helps us get better results eventually,” he added.
On March 31, Punjab Kings will take on Gujarat Titans at home to start the new season.
Iyer stated his goals and accepted the expectations of his admirers, who have dubbed him “Sarpanch Sahab.”
“Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy,” he asserted.
The captain, who has recently struggled with injuries, also looked back on his journey of recovery.
“It is always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around seven kilos and it took a lot of effort to gain that weight back. But I love challenges. I am glad I overcame that part of my life, and I am back here proudly representing the team,” he said.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh reiterated his captain’s confidence and emphasized the importance of home support in Mullanpur.
“When you feel the pressure, it is a privilege. It is a lot of fun when you get so much support from the crowd. When people cheer for you, you feel that 30,000 people are running in with you at that time. We will try our best to win all our home matches this year,” Arshdeep said.
The India seamer gave the team management credit for supporting him early in his career as he thought back on his time with the franchise.
“The journey has been amazing. When I came here for the first time, they gave me full support and showed me my potential. They trusted me a lot when no other team did. I really appreciate that, and I want to stay here for a long time. I am looking forward to winning a lot of trophies for the team,” he added.
