Ahead of the match against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings` bowling coach James Hopes feels that the side`s skipper, Shreyas Iyer, has stepped up a level from his previous stint, which was with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"He has stepped up a level from what he was in KKR. That just comes with playing more cricket and being more confident in what you do. We are blessed to have him in our team," James Hopes said during a press conference.

In the ongoing IPL 2025, under Shreyas Iyer`s captaincy, PBKS has registered seven victories in 11 matches. The side is now placed third on the points table and will continue to hunt its way to the league`s playoffs.

Further, Hopes stated that even if a player had a bad outing, Iyer`s approach towards him remains the same at the end of the day.

"He [Shreyas] is calm and confident. That is the first thing he does really well, regardless of how the game goes. He is the same person. If you have a bad day as a player, he is going to be the same person towards you after the game," said the bowling coach.

Currently, PBKS need just two wins in order to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2025. The third-placed will resume its campaign against the beleaguered Rajasthan, who are threadbare at the second-bottom spot in the points table.

Hopes is also optimistic of Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis` return to the team early next week. Despite the absence of a couple of overseas stars, Hopes assured that the Kings are unfazed and will continue to stick to the similar structure that has helped them reap success.

"We hope Marcus and Josh join us early next week. We have added Mitchell Owen. There have been times when Marcus and Josh were not part of the squad. We will go with a similar structure. The way we will play will be similar," he concluded.