Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting lavished praise on captain Shreyas Iyer after the team pulled off a record-setting chase of 265 against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. In a video shared on IPL’s official social platform on X, Ponting described Iyer as a “great leader” and backed his knack for finishing run chases.
Quick facts
- Punjab Kings chased 265 against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
- The chase was described as record-breaking.
- Shreyas Iyer played an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls to seal the win with seven balls remaining.
- Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya provided explosive early momentum before Iyer anchored the chase.
- Ricky Ponting said the team gains confidence when Iyer is present at the end of a run chase.
Ponting said his faith in Iyer’s leadership and finishing ability was a major reason he pushed hard for him during the auction. He added that when the captain arrives late in a chase, Punjab Kings rarely slip into a losing position, highlighting Iyer’s impact even from the crease.
“He’s a great person. That’s the reason I went as hard as I did in the auction,” Ponting said. He also explained that in a run chase, having Iyer available at the closing stages changes the mindset of the group, because it brings a sense of control over the final overs.
Pointing to what he saw in the match, Ponting noted that he himself expected Iyer to take charge when the innings was nearing its end. He described going out to the middle at the 11th or 12th over as a moment when he essentially told his captain to stay there and finish the job—something Iyer, he said, did again.
Iyer’s 71 seals it
With Delhi setting a demanding target of 265, Punjab Kings built their chase through fast starts from Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Iyer then steadied the innings, remaining unbeaten on 71 off 36 balls as the visitors reached the target with seven balls to spare.
Ponting also singled out the role of the opening partnership, stressing how the duo’s different approaches helped Punjab Kings keep the chase on track. He pointed to the balance created by left-right batting combinations and the way both batters were able to find varied areas of the ground.
“The partnership that he and Priyansh have together is pretty amazing,” Ponting said. He added that they complement each other well—one left-handed and the other right-handed—while also hitting different parts of the pitch.
Despite the huge win, Ponting acknowledged that there is still work to be done. He said it is satisfying to produce the highest run chase, but it also means the bowling and fielding units conceded a lot of runs, and the team will address those issues before the next match.
He expressed satisfaction as well with the continued growth of young opener Prabhsimran Singh. Ponting said the batter’s match-winning knocks have been proof of his value, and he welcomed the fact that the youngster is absorbing what coaches try to teach.
“When you become a coach… it’s nice to hear that he’s saying I’m having some sort of influence on the way he’s playing,” Ponting said. He also described coaching as teaching—trying to improve how a player approaches the game and how he bats—before adding that Prabhsimran is listening and getting the job done.
