Last season’s runners-up Punjab Kings have made a strong start and are the only unbeaten side so far this IPL season, but skipper Shreyas Iyer insists the focus must remain on staying in the present even as they chase their maiden title.Reuniting with Ricky Ponting at PBKS, Iyer, who joined the franchise after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title, has been central to their resurgence.Punjab, who finished runners-up to Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season, have looked formidable with four wins from five matches, while one game against Kolkata Knight Riders ended in a washout.”The mission, obviously, is to lift the trophy. But I always feel that the more you stay in the present, the more you stay in control of what is in your hands at that moment and you just have to go full throttle,” Iyer said on JioStar.”You don’t have to think too far ahead or dwell on the past. I reiterate the same point to my teammates as well – when we are out there, we are playing for ourselves, not against the opponents. We just want to improve each day and make sure we put our best foot forward. When everything comes together and that synergy builds, everything falls into place.” Iyer has marshalled the middle order with authority, striking three successive fifties in as many innings.His PBKS stint began with a match-winning 97 against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, setting the tone for his fine run as skipper.Reflecting on that innings, where he fell short of a hundred, Iyer said he prioritised the team’s total over personal milestones.”Honestly, at that moment, I told Shashank Singh not to over think because there were 10 balls left. I thought I would get at least one ball out of those 10. So, I told him, ‘You can play freely, don’t think too much’. In the last over as well, I gave him that belief – that it’s okay to take it on and not worry about my hundred.”In the back of my mind, I felt I would get at least one ball somehow. But then he played the entire over, and I was happy that we got 240 on the board. To get that score in the first match of the season sets the rhythm.” Iyer also highlighted the importance of trusting players’ instincts, recalling how lead pacer Arshdeep Singh suggested bringing in Vijaykumar Vyshak as an Impact Player in that game, where he returned tidy figures.”When you are on the ground, every individual is involved in the game and everyone’s inputs matter. When bowlers come and say they can execute a certain plan, it’s important to back them because their instincts can be strong as well.”At the same time, there are situations when they run out of ideas and ask what they should do, and that’s when I step in. It goes hand in hand – it’s not like I always dictate terms. Even in team meetings, players come up with solid points and you have to value what they bring.”We had discussed bowling wide yorkers to Sherfane Rutherford because wherever else we pitched, he was going bonkers. The plan worked, and Vyshak ended up being the hero.” One of PBKS’ most morale-boosting wins last season came when they defended a modest 111 against KKR, bowling them out for 95 despite the opposition cruising at 62/2. Yuzvendra Chahal starred with 4/28.”As soon as we got two wickets, they stitched together a solid partnership. I wanted them to feel a bit of pressure, so with close-in fielders, I tried to make them feel like we were right in their face.”The idea was to push them into doing something extra or playing a shot that wasn’t necessary, and that worked well. I made the field more attacking when a new batter came in, and they tried to play improvisational shots.”Credit goes to the bowlers – they were very consistent with their lines and lengths and had an attacking mindset. I keep telling them in every game that it’s not over until the last ball is bowled or the last run is scored. You never give up, you fight till the end.” On a lighter note, Iyer also spoke about the ‘Sarpanch’ tag he has earned within the squad.”I love it. I was clueless at the start of my journey with Punjab Kings about how the ‘Sarpanch’ tag came up and what it meant. But later, when I asked a couple of my teammates, they explained that ‘Sarpanch’ means the head of a family, a group, or even a district. That gave me clarity, and from there onwards, my journey started.”  PBKS take on Lucknow Super Giants in their sixth game of the season here on Sunday.