India, March 30 -- Under the gaze of head coach Ricky Ponting, Punjab Kings (PBKS) look the statement of intent they were last year. As they gear up for Tuesday's IPL 2026 opener against Gujarat Titans, the camp at the New Chandigarh stadium is buzzing with quiet confidence, shaped by the lessons of last season's run to the final.

The former Australia skipper, who joined the squad 10 days ago, has quickly asserted himself. Training sessions have been intense and purposeful, with Ponting involved in every aspect, be it refining match scenarios, sharpening fielding drills, or one-on-one chats with players. The focus is to build a side that is mentally tough, tactically sharp and competitive.

Reflecting on last season, Ponting made it clea...