“It will be hard for any team to face our batting line-up,” the veteran leg-spinner said.
Chahal stressed that belief coursed through the camp even before a ball was bowled. “We accepted the total and were feeling very positive before the innings. We know the quality we possess with the bat. It was a batting-friendly wicket, and we needed an excellent start if we were to chase such a big score. We got exactly that.”
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya provided the perfect launchpad, smashing 116 runs in the Powerplay alone. “Prabhsimran and Priyansh gave us the momentum we needed in the first six overs. That helped our batters through the middle overs and put the bowlers under pressure,” Chahal said.
While Punjab’s batting unit continues to shine, Chahal acknowledged the mounting challenge bowlers face in high-scoring encounters, especially with modern regulations such as the Impact Sub rule. “I can understand why dealing with the Impact Sub rule can be challenging, but you have to adapt; that’s what the tournament demands. This is the direction the format is heading in, and we have to find solutions because we can’t change it. It becomes even more difficult on smaller grounds.”
With 13 points from seven matches, Punjab Kings sit firmly atop the IPL 2026 standings.