Watch: Punjab Kings Begin IPL 2026 Campaign with Special Puja Ceremony

March 26, 2026: Punjab Kings held a special puja at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The ceremony was attended by head coach Ricky Ponting, spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, and wicketkeeping coach Brad Haddin. The players and support staff gathered to seek blessings for a successful and positive season ahead. The team looked calm and focused as they prepared for the upcoming tournament.

The 2025 runners up will start their IPL 2026 campaign at their home ground against Gujarat Titans on March 31. The team is hoping to begin the season on a strong note in front of their home crowd. The atmosphere around the camp looks positive as the players continue their final preparations.

A SPECIAL PUJA BY PUNJAB KINGS 🙏❤️

- Ricky Ponting & PBKS conducted a special Puja ahead of IPL 2026. pic.twitter.com/0tcdz1pt3s

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 25, 2026

Team Gets Strong Boost Before Season Opener

The squad received a big boost as Australian players Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly joined the team in Mohali. Both players arrived earlier this week and were warmly welcomed by the franchise at the stadium. They looked in good spirits and quickly joined the training sessions with the rest of the squad. Their presence adds more strength to the team, as they bring both international experience and fresh energy.

Punjab Kings have been training hard over the last few weeks to get ready for the new season. The players have focused on improving both their batting and bowling combinations. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the team will look to perform better this season and aim for the title.

Last season, Punjab Kings had a strong run and reached the IPL 2026 final. However, they lost a close match to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, by just six runs in the final. It was a tough loss for the team, but they will take confidence from their performance. With a balanced squad and good preparation, Punjab Kings will aim to go one step further this time and win the title.