Punjab Kings’ IPL Saga: Why These Underdog Champs Deserve a Trophy

Dive into the rollercoaster ride of Punjab Kings IPL journey! From epic near-misses in 2014 and 2025 to their fiery fanbase, discover why this IPL franchise deserves better. Packed with Shreyas Iyer leadership, IPL 2025 highlights, and juicy stats, this blog is your go-to for Punjab Kings history, cricket drama, and future hopes. 🏏🔥

Punjab Kings’ Wild Ride in the IPL 🎢

Yo, what’s good? The Punjab Kings, aka the OG Kings XI Punjab, have been slaying the IPL scene since 2008. Based in Mohali, this squad reps Punjab, Haryana, and beyond with their fierce vibe and star-studded lineup. Owned by a fab crew including Preity Zinta (yep, the Bollywood queen! 😎), they’ve had some lit moments but no shiny IPL trophy yet (1). Let’s break down their IPL history, shall we?

These guys have had some chef’s kiss seasons, like 2014 when they topped the league like bosses, and 2025, where they almost snagged the title under Shreyas Iyer’s epic captaincy (2). But, like, why no 🏆? Check out their ups and downs in this dope table:

Year	League Standing	Final Standing	Matches	Wins	Losses	No Result	Win %
2008	2nd out of 8	Semi-finalists	15	10	5	0	66.67%
2014	1st out of 8	Runners-up	17	12	5	0	70.59%
2015	8th out of 8	League stage	14	3	11	0	21.43%
2023	8th out of 10	League stage	14	6	8	0	42.86%
2024	9th out of 10	League stage	14	5	9	0	35.71%
2025	1st out of 10	Runners-up	16	10	5	1	63.64%

Table: Punjab Kings IPL Performance (2008-2025)

Heartbreaks That Hit Harder Than a Yorker 💔

Okay, let’s talk about the ouch moments. Punjab Kings have had two this-close shots at IPL glory, and both times? Total gut-punch. 😭

In 2014, they were on fire, smashing their way to the final with Wriddhiman Saha going beast mode, scoring 115 off 55 balls (10 fours, 8 sixes, hello?!). They posted 199/4 against Kolkata Knight Riders, but KKR’s Manish Pandey was like, “Nah, fam,” and chased it down with a clutch 94 (4). Final score? KKR 200/7, Punjab Kings 199/4. Talk about a mic drop loss.

Then, in 2025, Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting had the squad poppin’. They crushed Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, with Iyer dropping an unbeaten 87 (5). The final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru? A wild ride. RCB set 190/9, and Punjab Kings hit 14 sixes (an IPL final record!) but ended at 184/7, losing by 6 runs (6). Fans on X were hyped, with @Gaurav_Hrithik2 calling Iyer the GOAT before the match, only to cry in the group chat later (7).

These IPL heartbreaks show Punjab Kings are legit contenders, but luck’s been ghosting them. 👻

Why PBKS Deserves a Glow-Up 🌟

So, why do Punjab Kings deserve better? Let’s spill the tea. ☕

First, they’ve had some messy off-field drama. In 2010, they got kicked out of the IPL for shady ownership stuff (rude!) but fought their way back. This chaos meant starting from scratch in 2011, which was not the vibe (1). Plus, they’ve swapped captains and coaches like Gen Z swaps TikTok trends—hard to build a squad like that!

But hold up, their fans? Loyal AF. The PCA Stadium in Mullanpur is a party every match day, and their socials are buzzing with love (3). Players like Shashank Singh, who smashed clutch sixes in 2025, and Arshdeep Singh, who took 3 wickets in the final, prove they’ve got the talent to dominate (6).

The 2025 season was a slay. Finishing first in the league stage and reaching the final under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting? That’s main character energy. Ponting even said post-final, “A bit more middle-order experience, and we’d be champs” (6). With this squad, the IPL 2026 trophy is basically calling their name. 📞

Conclusion: The Trophy’s Coming, PBKS Fam! 🚀

The Punjab Kings are the IPL’s ultimate underdog story—full of fire performances, ouch heartbreaks, and a fanbase that never quits. Their 2014 and 2025 finals proved they’re this close to greatness, and with Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting leading the charge, the IPL trophy is basically on layaway. So, keep the faith, PBKS stans! The Punjab Kings are ready to turn their almosts into always and snatch that IPL glory. 🏏💪