Punjab Kings begin IPL 2027 prep with five-day camp in New Chandigarh
Synopsis
Punjab Kings have opened their IPL 2027 account the hard way — in the nets. After a promising start to IPL 2026 unravelled into six straight losses and a fifth-place finish, the franchise is banking on structured off-season camps, starting with a five-day skill-focused session in New Chandigarh, to avoid repeating the mid-season collapse.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Kings launched a five-day off-season training camp at the New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh , from 11 August .
Six players are attending, including Prabhsimran Singh , Shashank Singh , Harpreet Brar , Praveen Dubey , Pyla Avinash , and Nehal Wadhera .
Assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves is overseeing daily drills at the venue.
In IPL 2026 , PBKS won their first 7 matches before losing 6 in a row , finishing fifth and missing the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals , Sunrisers Hyderabad , and Delhi Capitals are also running off-season camps at their respective venues.
More PBKS camps targeting different player groups are planned over the coming months ahead of IPL 2027 .
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have kicked off a five-day off-season training camp at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, beginning 11 August, as the franchise sets its sights on a stronger campaign in IPL 2027. The camp is focused exclusively on individual skill development, giving players structured time away from match-day pressure to sharpen specific areas of their game.
Players in Attendance
The current cohort includes wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, batting all-rounder Shashank Singh, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Harpreet Brar, batting all-rounder Pyla Avinash, leg-spinner Praveen Dubey, and middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera. The mix of experienced campaigners and developing talent signals a deliberate attempt by the franchise to address skill gaps across the batting and bowling departments.
Coaching Setup and Objectives
The drills are being overseen by assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves, who is working closely with players at different stages of their careers. The structure allows the support staff to deliver personalised attention — something rarely possible during the high-intensity IPL window. This initial camp is the first in a series planned by the franchise management, with subsequent sessions targeting different player groups and carrying a dual focus on skill refinement and fitness conditioning.
Context: PBKS's IPL 2026 Collapse
The urgency behind the off-season effort is understandable given PBKS's trajectory in IPL 2026. Under captain Shreyas Iyer, the side began the season in commanding form — remaining unbeaten through their first seven matches (six wins and one no result) — before suffering a run of six consecutive defeats. A final-league-stage win over Lucknow Super Giants was not enough to salvage their campaign; they finished fifth in the points table and missed the playoffs. The two-time IPL runners-up have now gone multiple seasons without a title, making early preparation a priority.
Other Franchises Also in Pre-Season Mode
Punjab Kings are not alone in using the off-season window proactively. 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals have assembled a group of players at their High-Performance Centre in Talegaon, while 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad held a short skill and fitness camp in Chennai. Delhi Capitals — runners-up in IPL 2020 — conducted a camp for domestic players at the Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where trials were also held. The trend points to franchises increasingly treating the off-season as a competitive differentiator rather than a recovery period.
Further camps for additional Punjab Kings players are expected to be announced over the coming months as the franchise builds its foundation for the 2027 season.
Point of View
But rarely cure alone. The real question is whether the franchise has diagnosed why the wheels came off: was it tactical, physical, or a depth problem in the squad? A rotating series of small-group camps is a sensible process, but the meaningful test will be whether the coaching staff uses this window to build match-specific game plans, not just drill fundamentals. With Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals all running parallel programmes, the off-season edge will belong to whichever franchise converts camp work into IPL-ready adaptability — not just fitness numbers.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Punjab Kings IPL 2027 training camp being held?
The camp is being held at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. It began on 11 August and runs for five days, focused on individual skill development ahead of IPL 2027.
Which players are attending the Punjab Kings off-season camp?
Six players are attending: wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, batting all-rounders Shashank Singh and Pyla Avinash, left-arm spin all-rounder Harpreet Brar, leg-spinner Praveen Dubey, and middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera.
Why did Punjab Kings miss the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Punjab Kings finished fifth in the IPL 2026 points table after losing six consecutive matches following an unbeaten seven-game start. A final-league-stage win over Lucknow Super Giants was not enough to secure a playoff berth.
Who is coaching the Punjab Kings camp in New Chandigarh?
Assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves is overseeing the daily drills at the New International Cricket Stadium. The camp is run under the franchise's broader coaching staff.
Are other IPL franchises also holding off-season camps?
Yes. Rajasthan Royals are training at their High-Performance Centre in Talegaon, Sunrisers Hyderabad held a camp in Chennai, and Delhi Capitals ran a session for domestic players at the Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, which also included trials.
