As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up to commence on March 28, only the first 20 matches have been scheduled due to ongoing state elections. In anticipation of the tournament, Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer highlighted the significance of nurturing relationships with teammates beyond the field. Iyer believes that fostering strong off-field connections can lead to enhanced performance during matches. “For two months, we live like a family. The more we interact, the better we understand each other. This is the time to cultivate that camaraderie. We spend a lot of our time in the game room, enjoying FIFA and other games. While match strategies are typically discussed a day or two in advance, the bonds we create off the field contribute greatly to our success,” he shared at the event unveiling the franchise’s new match kit. Furthermore, Iyer opened up about his recovery process after an injury. “Returning from an injury is always tough. I lost around seven kilos, and regaining that weight required significant effort. But I thrive on challenges. I’m proud to have overcome that phase and to represent the team once again,” he remarked. Embracing the affection from Punjab fans, who affectionately call him ‘Sarpanch Sahab’, Iyer is focused on his ultimate ambition. “Expectations are high, which makes it exciting. I relish the challenge, but our primary goal is to win whenever we step on the field. My sights are set on the trophy,” the 31-year-old cricketer stated. The Punjab Kings are set to kick off their IPL 2026 season with a match against the Gujarat Titans on March 31 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
**IPL 2026: Full Squads**
**Punjab Kings:** Marcus Stoinis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shashank Singh, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Shreyas Iyer (C), Ben Dwarshuis, Vishnu Vinod (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Harpreet Brar, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Cooper Conolly, Mitchell Owen, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Vishal Nishad.
**Gujarat Titans:** Ishant Sharma, Jos Buttler (WK), Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Tewatia, Luke Wood, Shahrukh Khan, Glenn Phillips, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Shubman Gill (C), Tom Banton (WK), Yarra Raj, Anuj Rawat, Sai Sudharsan, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Arshad Khan, Nishant Sandhu, Gurnoor Brar, Ashok Sharma.