Punjab Kings will play in the Qualifier 1 on Thursday.
When a reporter approached Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh about the podcast he recorded only days before the IPL 2025 season began, Singh was bursting with joy.
Even though his remarks in that podcast with journalist Shubhankar Mishra were a little lofty at the time, they have finally been realized. Punjab Kings ended the league with 19 points from 14 games, fulfilling Shashank's prediction that they would place in the top two of the rankings.
On Monday, May 27, PBKS easily chased down 185 runs in Jaipur to defeat the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets, securing their top-two position. They will advance to Qualifier 1 as a result of this achievement, giving them two opportunities to make it to the final.
The clip of Shashank's bold prediction quickly went viral on social media minutes after PBKS dismantled MI. The Punjab Kings themselves shared the clip, amplifying the excitement.
Check here:
???????????????????????????????? ????????! ???????????????????? ????????! ????@shashank2191 pic.twitter.com/2dE7K0s5nk
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 26, 2025
17th March - Shashank Singh said Punjab Kings will finish in the Top 2.
— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) May 26, 2025
26th May - Punjab Kings finishes in the Top 2 and plays Qualifier 1. ???? pic.twitter.com/mP7BRj3Ik0
"It feels surreal. Finishing in the top two is not easy in a league like the IPL. To be very honest, it's very satisfying," Shashank said when reflecting on his podcast prediction coming true.
For the first time since 2014, PBKS, who are sometimes referred to as perpetual underachievers, placed in the top two of the league table. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and the coaching staff of Ricky Ponting, they finally found their groove in the 2025 Indian Premier League after years of battling for consistency.
"The best thing is, obviously, we manifested this as a team, not just individually, but as a unit. Right after the auction, we created a WhatsApp group and talked about winning the title this year. Our first aim was to finish in the top two, and we've cleared that hurdle.
But manifesting is one thing, and believing is another. So, we believed, we manifested, and then we worked hard. Full credit to the management, the support staff, everyone - every single individual contributed," he added.
Throughout the campaign, Shashank Singh and Priyansh Arya have been reliable hitters. Priyansh showed remarkable maturity in his 109-run partnership with Josh Inglis, who is hitting his stride at the perfect moment, during Monday's difficult chase of 185.
Shashank credited Ponting and Iyer for creating a positive dressing room atmosphere, which contributed to PBKS' victory in the 2025 Indian Premier League. According to him, every member of the team—from the best players to the team bus driver—has been treated with dignity and given a sense of belonging.
"That was the main motto of Ponting sir and Shreyas from Day 1. We spoke about creating a culture where we care for each other, and obviously, the results will take care of themselves. He changed everything: the culture, the mindset, the belief. He's the one who changed our perspective. He made sure that we built that culture. On the first day, he and Shreyas told us that we would respect Yuzi Chahal, probably our most senior player, and the team bus driver with equal respect. This is the culture they have built," Shashank said.
On Thursday, PBKS will play Qualifier 1 at their home field of Mullanpur. In this pivotal match, they will play either the Gujarat Titans or the Royal Challengers Bangalore.