Punjab Kings should be thrilled to play Qualifier 1 at home in Mullanpur, just like any other Indian Premier League team. Despite the fact that PBKS has two victories and two losses in Mullanpur, the team's management will be content to compete here since local conditions are important.

The only exception is if the Virat Kohli effect kicks in and the Punjab supporters show up in RCB jerseys and shout for Kohli. Arshdeep Singh, a PBKS pacer, is aware of that potential as he urged the Punjabi supporters on Thursday to back the home side. Last month in Mullanpur, during the PBKS-RCB match, fans cheered loudly for Virat and RCB. Additionally, there were jeers directed at a few PBKS players and their families.

After 11 years, PBKS has made it to the playoffs. They will be playing in Mullanpur in 38 days and would like a pitch that is more bouncy so that their towering quick bowlers may take advantage of it. The Shreyas Iyer-Ricky Ponting duo has given a franchise that has been in trouble for the past ten years a lot of momentum throughout the tournament. However, Ponting maintains that the task is just half completed.

With the "big games" still to come, Ponting told the broadcaster following Monday's victory over Mumbai Indians in the final league match that "we have not achieved anything yet." "As a group, it takes a lot of effort to accomplish something like this. This is obviously a highly skilled group of individuals who are all on the same page. Thus far, it has been a significant accomplishment, but in reality, we have not accomplished anything if you consider the past. Since the day we qualified, I have been telling the players that.

After having collaborated in Delhi Capitals, Ponting and Shreyas have rekindled their relationship in PBKS this year, and it has worked.

“My ambition has always been to end in the top two, and we are now there. We're a really cheerful bunch, and we've had a lot of fun hanging out with each other for the past ten weeks, but we still have another week to go, Ponting said, keeping an eye on bringing home the franchise's first IPL championship. Given PBKS's track record of excelling with native players, this may be their greatest opportunity.

The groundwork for Iyer and Josh Inglis to build upon has been laid by openers Prabhsimran Singh and rookie Priyansh Arya. While Marcus Stoinis and Nehal Wadhera have also added batting depth, Shashank Singh keeps getting better as a finisher.

The departure of South African fast bowler Marco Jansen has dealt a blow to the bowling; he complemented Arshdeep (18) by taking 16 wickets. With the Proteas playing Australia in the World Test Championship final starting on June 11, Jansen has departed for his national responsibilities.

Due to a finger injury, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was forced to sit out the previous two games. He is anticipated to make a comeback and partner with the precise Harpreet Brar. Chahal's four-wicket haul in a low-scoring match in Mullanpur contributed to PBKS' victory over KKR.

The team has gained stability under Iyer's captaincy, though, and the India batsman has performed well since being acquired for a massive ₹26.75 crore.

"Shreyas has spent a lot of time with the players one-on-one," you might say. When they needed it, he encouraged them, gave them a pat on the back, and gave them a kick in the butt. Ponting stated that this indicates that a leader is both effective and powerful. Iyer is the 16th captain of PBKS, and the team will be hoping that the man who guided KKR to the championship last year will do the same for them.

A loss won't signal the end. The winners of the Eliminator will face the losers in Qualifier 2.

Jitesh Sharma's outstanding, undefeated 85 runs off 33 balls helped RCB to a remarkable league victory on Tuesday against Lucknow Super Giants, and the other batters also showed their class.

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