While the spotlight has largely been on its batting line-up, which has set the tournament alight with blistering displays, the bowling unit has quietly powered the side forward, consistently restricting opponents to below-par scores even at high-scoring venues.<\/p>\n
Its pace quartet of Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Marco Jansen, and Vijaykumar Vyshak has been especially impressive, holding its nerve under pressure with a blend of skill, discipline, and smart tactics on batting-friendly tracks.<\/p>\n
Each brings different strengths, but the group has shown a strong collective understanding of roles. \u201cI think everyone has different skills. Everyone has a different way of going about it, about bowling in different situations,\u201d Jansen told reporters in a media interaction on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve done really well in embracing each and every one\u2019s opinions on how they think would be best to go about things. We back each other,\u201d he added. \u201cWe understand and we support one another in whatever way they feel is the best way for them to do a good job for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jansen\u2019s role with Punjab Kings is somewhat unfamiliar. The South African, who usually takes the new ball for his country, has largely operated as a first-change bowler, with Arshdeep and Bartlett opening the attack. He understands the shift is in service of the team\u2019s balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m used to taking the first or the second over, but I also know that I do have the skills to adapt to any situation or any particular time in the match, to come in and do a job for the team. Obviously, as a swing bowler or someone who\u2019s used to bowling with the new ball, you do have a weapon in your hand as well. Coming in in the third or fourth or sometimes fifth over is definitely a different approach,\u201d said the 25-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, I also realise that and understand that I have different attributes, different skills that I bring to the bowling unit and to the table. In this bowling unit, everyone knows that wherever we bowl, there\u2019s a plan, there\u2019s a reason. It\u2019s not a case of them believing I can\u2019t do a good job bowling the first or second over with the new ball. It\u2019s a case of asking how we\u2019re going to bowl well as a unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Punjab Kings\u2019 bowling has particularly excelled in the second half of innings. It has been effective at restricting sides in the last 10 overs, operating at the third-lowest economy rate in this phase (9.34). Its economy in the final four overs (9.92) is equally impressive, especially at a stage when bowlers are typically under the pump.<\/p>\n
A defining feature of this phase has been the variety of change-ups, including wide yorkers and slower bouncers, aimed at limiting scoring options. Jansen says the approach is built around using the protection of boundary fielders to execute specific plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always assessing and thinking of ways to stop the opposition from scoring, and obviously make it as hard as possible for them to score runs, especially at the death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the PowqerPlay, you only have two fielders out. At the death and in the middle overs, you have five fielders out, so it makes it a bit easier for us as a bowling unit to sort of bowl towards a certain plan, if it makes sense, when there\u2019s more fielders out to help you take wickets,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think it\u2019s just about how do we, if the opposition is batting well, stop them from scoring? And if we\u2019re on top, how do we stop them from scoring?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s quite difficult to set a particular plan for all the batters. It\u2019s just about trying to be smart and just basically keeping them on their toes. You always have to make the batter think twice or guess what the next ball is going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Empowering the bowlers to execute these plans is PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, whom Jansen describes as \u201cgoal-driven\u201d and \u201cheadstrong.\u201d He praised Shreyas\u2019 leadership, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s nice to play under his captaincy. He\u2019s up for discussions and is always welcoming. It never feels like a dictatorship, everyone feels valued and welcomed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a player, it\u2019s very, very nice to have a captain like that, where you feel you can go to the captain and you can express or speak about certain things about the game,\u201d Jansen continued. \u201cHe\u2019ll also give his advice and his two cents about it as well. And then he\u2019ll formulate a plan with you to help you get better if need be and to take the team forward, which is nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 24, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n