Punjab Kings (PBKS) are all set to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on March 31 in New Chandigarh, where they will face the Gujarat Titans in a high-voltage clash. After last year’s final heartbreak, Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS must be hungry to finally bring home their first-ever IPL trophy.
Following the successful 2025 season, the Punjab Kings have not made many changes to their squad. They kept their main group together as they signed only four new faces to give the team a sharper edge in the ongoing IPL 2026 that got underway on March 28.
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One of them is the Australian all-rounder Ben Dwarshuis. However, the 31-year-old isn’t new to the Punjab Kings family, having been part of the franchise back in 2018. But this time, Dwarshuis returns as a far more polished and confident player to turn heads in the IPL 2026.
Ben Dwarshuis hails Shreyas Iyer ahead of his possible Punjab Kings debut
Ahead of his team’s season opener, Dwarshuis has opened up on how the PBKS camp is shaping up and what excites him the most. The Australian star has showered rich praise on Shreyas Iyer, saying the captain brings a rare mix of calmness and smart thinking.
Dwarshuis has noted that Iyer’s reading of the game, his control over pressure moments, and his ability to connect with players make him one of the strongest IPL captains. Now, he is excited to play under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy and hopes to contribute strongly whenever he gets the chance.
Ben Dwarshuis was quoted as saying by NDTV: “I mean from all reports, he’s one of the strongest captains in the league. Great cricketing brain, really understands the game, and I’m excited to hopefully get to play a few games and see in the middle what he’s like.”
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Dwarshuis excited to learn things from Ricky Ponting
The seasoned all-rounder is also excited to spend the next two months with the Punjab Kings head coach and Australian legend Ricky Ponting in the IPL 2026.
Dwarshuis said, “It’s great. I’ve had a little bit of experience with him in the past and really enjoyed those times, so to have a nice two-month stint with him is going to be really great, and hopefully I can learn a few things.”
Adaptability across Indian venues will be key: Dwarshuis
The Punjab Kings left-arm pacer has admitted that playing across different stadiums in India definitely tests every player in the IPL, as each venue brings its own challenge, and players will have to quickly adjust their plans.
Dwarshuis signed off by saying, “Yeah, I think each ground you go to is always going to slightly alter the way that you want to go about your game, and having that adaptability to be able to play not only in different conditions in India but all around the world, I think, is what makes great cricketers.”
Notably, the Punjab Kings snapped up Dwarshuis for ₹4.40 crore during the IPL 2026 mini auction. He is known for bowling in any stage and hitting sixes in the death overs. During his last stint, he did not get a single game, but this time, he must be aiming to make a significant contribution.
