Punjab Kings (PBKS) batting coach Trevor Gonsalves has lavished praise on captain Shreyas Iyer, calling him one of the sharpest minds he has encountered in cricket, ahead of the franchise's preparations for IPL 2027. Speaking exclusively with NationPress, Gonsalves also opened up on the team's ongoing off-season camp in New Chandigarh, the philosophy driving it, and the transformation PBKS has undergone since 2025.

No Such Thing as Off-Season

Gonsalves was emphatic that the concept of an off-season no longer applies in modern cricket. 'As of today, I really don't see anything as off-season,' he said, pointing to a packed calendar of state leagues — the Sher-e-Punjab, the Kerala Premier League, the UP Premier League, and others — that keep players continuously engaged. The camp, running for roughly a week every three to four weeks, is designed to maintain fitness and match-readiness for players who may not be part of state or international setups.

The coach noted that several PBKS players have recently earned call-ups to the Indian national side, making it essential to keep the broader squad sharp in their absence. 'It is more about facilitating these players and getting them ready,' Gonsalves explained, adding that quality of practice — including access to Kookaburra balls and high-calibre net opponents — cannot be guaranteed when players train independently at home.

Individual Plans for Prabhsimran, Shashank and Nehal

The current camp features Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, and Nehal Wadhera, three players at distinctly different career stages. Gonsalves said the focus is not on rigid drill sessions but on match scenarios and phase-specific work tailored to each individual. Prabhsimran is set to feature for the state side imminently, while Shashank is working through technical adjustments from the previous season. Head coach Ricky Ponting, though not present at the camp, receives daily reports and remains closely involved in decision-making.

The Shreyas Iyer Factor

Gonsalves was particularly effusive about the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, who now also captains India in T20 Internationals. 'Shreyas is one of the best minds I have seen in cricket so far,' the coach said. He highlighted Iyer's rare quality as a listener — one who gives time to even the most peripheral squad member — and his insistence on strictly positive communication within the group. 'However bad the situation is, you've got to take out a positive line from it,' Gonsalves said, describing a culture where negative feedback is reframed constructively rather than delivered critically.

This culture, Gonsalves argued, is central to the franchise's recent upturn. Under Ponting and Iyer, PBKS reached the IPL 2025 final — ending years of mid-table stagnation — before a promising 2026 campaign was derailed by six consecutive losses in the second half, ultimately leaving them just outside the top four.

Why Indian Batters Are Central to IPL Success

On the broader question of team composition, Gonsalves was direct: a strong Indian batting line-up is the single most decisive factor in IPL performance. He cited the unique nature of Indian pitches — lower bounce, variable turn, and grip — as a structural advantage for home-grown batters. 'The better the Indian players, the better the team performs,' he said, while acknowledging the contribution of overseas talent. PBKS currently field depth options behind every frontline player, including young batting talents Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera.

Data, Mindset and the Road to IPL 2027

Gonsalves confirmed that data analytics plays a meaningful role in PBKS's planning, though he stopped short of calling the franchise fully data-driven. 'Data is the truth. You can't run away from the data,' he said, adding that it informs player selection and match-up decisions without replacing human judgement entirely. Beyond numbers, he stressed that these camps serve a psychological function — monitoring body language, attitude, and mental state — as much as a technical one. With an 'alarmingly long' schedule of camps planned ahead of IPL 2027, PBKS appear intent on leaving nothing to chance.