Young sensations Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya will be under more pressure to replicate their heroics from the last IPL season, according to Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh.

Before the IPL 2026 opening match, Shashank stated in the JioStar press room that the squad will try to take advantage of a few technical flaws in Sooryavanshi’s batting. There will be pressure to produce this year, and teams will undoubtedly be well-prepared,” Shashank stated on the two young players. “As is customary in India, there would be enormous expectations. Although Sooryavanshi is a future star, we will attempt to take advantage of some technological weaknesses in order to remove him.

After gaining popularity in his first IPL season, Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 this week, has been shattering long-standing batting records. He became the youngest-ever T20 centurion, scoring 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 206.55. Since then, Sooryavanshi has scarcely slowed down. His incredible resume now includes a 175 in the U19 World Cup final and a 36-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

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Shashank believes that Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya will face far more mental difficulties this time around. Priyansh and the other teams are in the same boat. The second season is therefore considerably more significant. The mental aspect is managing expectations because they will now be higher. We’ve witnessed this happen numerous times: someone had a fantastic season, but they don’t have the same chances the next year. I don’t know Sooryavanshi directly, so I can’t say much about him, but from what I’ve seen, he seems really composed. He is clear about his goals for his cricket career with Priyansh. He’ll perform incredibly well this year, in my opinion.

Despite being at opposite stages of their careers, Shashank and Priyansh are important members of the Punjab Kings lineup. Priyansh, who is 24 years old, scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24, while Shashank, who is ten years older, has been their designated finisher, scoring at 153.50. The Indian squad of Punjab Kings scored the most runs of any IPL 2025 team.

Alongside Priyansh, the squad is assembling a reliable roster of young players, including Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, and Harnoor Brar, all of whom are anticipated to participate at some point during the competition. According to Shashank, younger people tend to overthink things considerably less, which makes it easier for them to express themselves.

The children’s total lack of fear is their best quality, according to Shashank. “Punjabi players like Harnoor Singh, Suryansh Shedge, and Nehal Wadhera don’t think too much. I’ve come to the realisation that while I sometimes overthink things, these men don’t. They do better when they don’t think as much. Even if they play four dots or lose when batting, they don’t think about it. “They only think about the next ball. Their greatest strength is their confidence, which is especially important in the IPL.

I watch guys like Priyansh and Suryansh bat every day, and they are incredibly talented. They just require a little more maturity. I now see myself as a mature cricket player, and I believe that the sooner they have the ability to quickly adjust to changing circumstances, the better for them.

The Punjab Kings made it to the 2025 IPL final, their first postseason appearance in more than ten years, and coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer received a lot of accolades. Shashank believes that the two’s level of involvement, even in the off-season, is mostly responsible.

“It’s crucial that they support us during practice sessions and monitor us all year long,” Shashank stated.

“All year long, we play a lot of cricket. Maturity is therefore less of a problem when you play on a regular basis. The environment shapes the type of cricket we play and explains why we are so fearless. They have granted us total freedom, and I have always felt that way. Even though we lost the first qualifying match against RCB despite scoring just over 100, I recall that we never had a bad conversation about anything.

Even after a game like that, in which we suffered a crushing defeat, the topic of bringing positives into the following game was often discussed. Even now, only pleasant conversations are taking place in the current camp. I believe that outcomes will eventually materialise when someone grants you that much autonomy and trust.”

Shashank went on to say that Ponting’s positive attitude spreads throughout the squad and that his relationship with Iyer keeps the system running smoothly. Ricky Ponting fosters a strong team atmosphere by managing everyone, from players to support personnel, which is essential in a competition like the IPL. Since not every member of the team participates in every game, how you treat the others is crucial. He ensures that everyone is respected.

He made it plain from the first meeting that no one would be evaluated only on their performance; everyone is equal, even Shreyas Iyer and new players like UP spinner Vishal Nishad.He doesn’t have a different approach toward different people. He is quite knowledgeable about cricket. Brian Lara, with whom I have also collaborated, is equally excellent.

Even in meetings, he keeps things straightforward, which is quite beneficial when you’re struggling and have a tendency to overthink. You can learn a lot from him outside of cricket, and he is a very positive person. Working under him is a lot of fun because he and Shreyas have a great understanding and respect for one another. Being in agreement with the coach is crucial for the captain.