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\u2014ending unbeaten on 71.<\/p>\n
Ponting\u2019s 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. \u201cHe\u2019s a great person,\u201d Ponting said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Punjab\u2019s 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\u2014when a captain is still present during the final overs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause one thing I know is that if he\u2019s in at the end in a run chase, we\u2019re not going to lose too many games,\u201d Ponting said. He added that he had made a direct point to Iyer as the chase entered its crucial phase. \u201cAnd even tonight, I went out at the 11, 12 over mark. I just grabbed hold of him and said, if you\u2019re in at the end, we\u2019ll win the game. And he did it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coach extended his compliments to the opening duo as well, underlining how their styles helped keep the innings flowing. \u201cAnd 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2014Punjab will have to be better at preventing runs in the first place. \u201cIt\u2019s satisfying that you\u2019ve got the highest run chase, but to have the highest run chase, you\u2019ve also got to concede a lot of runs. So we\u2019ve got some work to do with our bowling and our fielding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ponting also spoke about the value of mentoring young players, particularly Prabhsimran, reflecting on his role as a guide as much as a coach. \u201cAt the end of the day, I\u2019m a teacher\u2026 Thankfully, he\u2019s listening and getting the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Punjab\u2019s chase will naturally stand out in IPL conversations for its scale and composure, but Ponting\u2019s message after the match was equally pointed\u2014build on the batting success, and address the bowling and fielding gaps before the next challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL News: Ponting Says PBKS Have \u201cWork to Do","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ricky Ponting reacts to PBKS\u2019 unbeaten chase run vs DC, praising Shreyas Iyer\u2019s finishing role while stressing the team still has \u201cwork to do.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n