Punjab Kings scripted a memorable chase against Delhi Capitals in a high-scoring contest, and head coach Ricky Ponting left no doubt that captain Shreyas Iyer was the driving force behind the successful run hunt. Chasing a daunting target of 265, Punjab never looked short of belief as the innings unfolded, with Iyer playing the kind of composed finishing role that steadies a chase—ending unbeaten on 71.
Ponting’s praise for his skipper went beyond the result. He explained that his decision to push hard to secure Iyer was rooted in more than cricketing skill. “He’s a great person,” Ponting said. “And that’s the reason that I went as hard as I did in the auction. I knew he was going to be a great leader and for us to rebuild this team and rebuild this franchise.”
Punjab’s chase gained momentum early, largely due to the aggressive approach of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Their attacking batting set the tone and gave the required momentum, while Iyer ensured that the early thrust translated into a finish by staying at the crease when the pressure naturally increased. Ponting also highlighted the confidence he had in that specific moment of the game—when a captain is still present during the final overs.
“Because one thing I know is that if he’s in at the end in a run chase, we’re not going to lose too many games,” Ponting said. He added that he had made a direct point to Iyer as the chase entered its crucial phase. “And even tonight, I went out at the 11, 12 over mark. I just grabbed hold of him and said, if you’re in at the end, we’ll win the game. And he did it again.”
The coach extended his compliments to the opening duo as well, underlining how their styles helped keep the innings flowing. “And the partnership that he (Prabhsimran) and Priyansh have together is pretty amazing. They complement each other really well. Left hand, right hand. Both hit different parts of the ground.”
Even with a historic chase achieved, Ponting was clear that the job is not finished. The magnitude of the successful target came with its own lesson—Punjab will have to be better at preventing runs in the first place. “It’s satisfying that you’ve got the highest run chase, but to have the highest run chase, you’ve also got to concede a lot of runs. So we’ve got some work to do with our bowling and our fielding,” he said.
Ponting also spoke about the value of mentoring young players, particularly Prabhsimran, reflecting on his role as a guide as much as a coach. “At the end of the day, I’m a teacher… Thankfully, he’s listening and getting the job done.”
Punjab’s chase will naturally stand out in IPL conversations for its scale and composure, but Ponting’s message after the match was equally pointed—build on the batting success, and address the bowling and fielding gaps before the next challenge.
