New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) Punjab Kings' head coach, Ricky Ponting, set a positive tone for the forthcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, urging his players to accept mistakes while maintaining their commitment to the game plan. Speaking to the team at the inception of their training camp in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Ponting highlighted the importance of preparation, clarity in roles, and belief in the team's strategy.

The camp commenced at the New International Cricket Stadium with a vigorous first session, as players and support staff came together in anticipation of the new season. Before the practice, Ponting shared his excitement about reuniting with the core group.

“I’ll keep it concise. It feels fantastic to be back here, to see so many familiar faces within this group once again,” he conveyed in a video released by the franchise, also welcoming new members. “We have had some changes, so Vishal, officially welcome to the team, and Ben Dwarshuis, welcome as well.”

The former Australian captain stressed that the main focus at this juncture should be on preparation rather than on immediate outcomes. “As far as I'm concerned, the tournament doesn’t begin now. This is training; this is preparation. It's about ensuring we are physically, technically, and mentally ready for our first match on the 31st,” he remarked.

Looking back on the previous season, Ponting encouraged the players to reconnect with the qualities that contributed to their success as a team. “I want you to reflect on what you brought to this team last year that helped us excel. Every single day last season, I emphasized that we were a strong team from start to finish, continuously striving to be a great one.”

He then delivered the crux of his address, motivating players to not shy away from mistakes as long as they adhere to their strategies. “Mistakes are inevitable; we all make them, and that’s perfectly okay. I’ll make mistakes, just as you will—you might drop a catch or play a poor shot—but as long as you’re adhering to your game plan, if a mistake happens, it’s simply part of the game,” he explained.

Ponting wrapped up his address on a high note, encouraging the squad to relish the process and dive straight into their work. “Let’s have fun, enjoy ourselves, and get right into the warm-up and nets as soon as possible,” he urged.

Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS heads into the new season after finishing as runners-up in 2025, with aspirations to elevate their performance in the 19th edition. The team is set to compete in 14 league matches and will kick off their campaign against the Gujarat Titans on April 31.