Mumbai, April 15 (NationPress) The more familiar a player is with the playing conditions and teammates, the more confidence they tend to exhibit, especially when struggling with their batting performance.

Nehal Wadhera, the middle-order batsman for Punjab Kings, is optimistic that his return to the Wankhede Stadium for the IPL 2026 matchup against the Mumbai Indians on Thursday will aid him in rediscovering his form and delivering an impressive innings.

Wadhera has had a challenging start to the season, with scores of 3, 10, and 14 in the three matches Punjab Kings have played thus far. Having spent two seasons with Mumbai Indians from 2023-24, he is well-acquainted with the Wankhede Stadium and most of the current MI squad, aside from a few changes.

The 25-year-old all-rounder from Ludhiana is filled with optimism as he returns to the iconic venue.

"Having played here for two years, I understand the conditions very well. I have teamed up with most of the players here and faced many of these bowlers during practice. Although I am currently lacking in runs, I believe that my time to shine will arrive soon. I feel I am in good form; it just takes one solid innings to get things rolling again," Wadhera stated during the pre-match press conference at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Wadhera expressed confidence in his team's historical performance against the Mumbai Indians, noting that among the eight founding teams of the IPL, Punjab Kings are the only team to maintain an equal head-to-head record with MI, with both teams winning 17 out of the 34 matches played.

"Just as a bowler who is in form gains confidence in their bowling, or a batsman who is performing well feels assured in their batting, a team also benefits from a strong winning record. This momentum carries forward," he said.

"We are in a very positive mindset. Last year, we triumphed over them in the semifinals, and this year, we face the same bowlers and the same team. We have a clear idea of their strategies, which gives us an added advantage. If we succeeded against their plans last year, we are confident we can do so again this year," Wadhera elaborated.

The leg-break bowler and middle-order batsman acknowledged that Punjab Kings have continued their strong performance from last year, despite the disappointment of losing in the finals to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"We are picking up right where we left off, maintaining the same momentum. Although we fell short in the finals last year, we continue to dominate all teams as we did prior. We are following the same routines, and the atmosphere remains consistent with what we experienced last season," he said.

Wadhera commended head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer for fostering a positive environment that encourages players to perform freely. He mentioned that Ponting consistently advises players to trust their natural game without dwelling on past failures.

For players like him, who have not yet represented India, interacting with a legend like Ponting is invaluable. "He is an exceptional batsman and has led Australia to multiple World Cup victories, bringing a wealth of knowledge to our discussions. He always encourages a positive outlook, assuring us that the results will follow," said Wadhera.

The 25-year-old emphasized the positive impact of one-on-one interactions with skipper Shreyas Iyer. "Just the other day, I spoke with him, and he told me to focus on my natural game without the burden of pressure. 'Play your natural game; I will handle the pressure,' he reassured me," Wadhera concluded.