The IPL always brings drama, but sometimes, the biggest talking points come from outside the field. This time, it was Salman Khan who grabbed attention with a simple yet powerful message that instantly went viral.
For years, Salman’s famous 2014 tweet- “Zinta’s team won kya?”, has been a running joke among cricket fans. Every time Punjab Kings struggled, that line would come back on social media. It became part of IPL culture. Fans used it for memes, banter, and even frustration. But in IPL 2026, things feel different.
Salman Khan congratulates Preity Zinta as Punjab Kings Enjoy IPL Resurgence
This time, Salman came out with a completely different tone. What started as light-hearted trolling has now turned into genuine appreciation. And honestly, it was long overdue. Fans didn’t just react, they celebrated. Many called it the “sequel” to the 2014 tweet, but with a happy ending. Social media was full of nostalgia, memes, and positive energy.
But let’s be real, the reason behind all this hype is Punjab Kings’ performance this season.
PBKS are not just winning games, they are dominating with confidence. The team looks completely transformed under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. They often looked confused and inconsistent in previous seasons.
Chasing 200+ totals is never easy in T20 cricket, but Punjab Kings have made it look almost normal. Their successful chase of 210 against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk was a statement win. Following that with another dominant chase of 220 against Sunrisers Hyderabad showed this is not luck; this is a proper system working.
Young players have stepped up in a big way. Priyansh Arya grabbing headlines with a 16-ball fifty tells you everything about the fearless mindset in the team. At the same time, Prabhsimran Singh has been giving explosive starts consistently, setting the tone right from the powerplay.
And then there’s the captain himself. Shreyas Iyer has played a huge role in this turnaround. He has been absolutely spot on in terms of captaincy and batting. He looks composed under pressure, and that confidence is clearly spreading across the team. When a captain leads like that, the dressing room automatically becomes stronger.
On the bowling side, Arshdeep Singh continues to be the backbone. Meanwhile, Shashank Singh has quietly contributed to important breakthroughs, especially in the middle overs.
What stands out the most is balance. For once, Punjab Kings don’t look like a team depending on one or two players. Everyone seems to have a role, and more importantly, everyone is delivering.
But here’s the real challenge. The IPL is a long tournament. Starting strong is one thing, but maintaining that intensity is a completely different game. We’ve seen teams dominate early and then fade away. Punjab Kings now need to stay consistent in a bid to make a serious bid for the title challenge.
The last time they reached the finals was in 2014, when they faced off against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite playing so well and posting a formidable total of 199/4 in 20 overs, the Kolkata-based franchise managed to chase down the target with 3 balls to spare. It was Punjab’s only final appearance in their history, and since then, they have failed to qualify for the playoffs.
However, they appear to be an entirely different team under Shreyas Iyer. As things stand, they are second on the table. In fact, they are the only team that is yet to lose a single game so far. Having played four games, they won three games, while the other game ended as no result due to rain.
They will lock horns with the Mumbai Indians on April 16, Thursday, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
