After a bit of captaincy and squad shuffles, Punjab Kings broke an 11-year drought on Sunday evening in Ahmedabad as they stormed previous five-time champions Mumbai Indians to achieve their second IPL closing. Main the cost was the inimitable Shreyas Iyer, with the captain and the batter in high type to steer PBKS to a file chase over MI on the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Iyer’s epic onslaught, an unbeaten 41-ball 87 full of 9 sixes and 5 fours, steered Punjab to a five-wicket win to interrupt Mumbai’s 18-match successful streak whereas defending 200-plus totals. Iyer’s steady management has been of significant significance to Punjab’s resurgence with a revamped squad because the Mega Public sale held in November 2024. The 30-year-old Iyer was Punjab’s high picks after having began the team-building course of on the again of solely two uncapped retentions in Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh.
Iyer’s shares soared as excessive as Rs 26.75 crore, the second-highest IPL public sale bid ever, as Punjab’s relentless pursuit lastly bore fruit. It took newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting’s relentless dedication to snap up Iyer that made the affiliation and the qualification to the ultimate for the primary time since 2014 potential for the Kings.
READ: Absolutely Ricky Ponting Concept Alternate Interview
“I’ll have made it sound like the entire staff is all about me. It’s definitely not. I’m the pinnacle coach and chargeable for wins and losses, however as soon as the sport begins, the staff is handed over to the captain. The coach can do little or no as soon as the sport begins. It was fairly clear with what we did on the public sale by bringing Shreyas to this franchise, it was clear to me and the house owners that we wished the absolute best Indian captain. We bought our man. He’s been terrific across the group,” Ponting had advised The Indian Specific throughout an Concept Alternate interplay early within the IPL 2025 season.
Ponting insisted that Iyer’s nous and management talents had been integral for Punjab, including that the coach didn’t have a real-time impression on the sphere.
“I don’t assume a cricket staff coach has the identical impression as a soccer staff supervisor. I wish to share my ideas and concepts with the captain and some senior gamers. We don’t essentially embody everybody in all tactical choices, however the relationship between the captain and coach have to be as sturdy as potential. That’s why I went for Shreyas within the public sale. I’ve labored with him for a very long time in Delhi (Capitals). He’s one of many nice gamers and nice individuals I’ve labored with, and is an IPL-winning captain. We’ve got a terrific relationship, respecting one another’s roles.
Making his franchise debut with a stellar 97 not out in a high-scoring recreation, by the way in opposition to the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Iyer went onto cross the 600-run mark for the primary time in a season on Sunday.
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“You watch him stroll out to bat, he walked out with a specific amount of swagger about him as a result of he’s assured. He is aware of if he does his little issues proper, then he can’t fail. That’s the factor I all the time inform the gamers: in case you put together in addition to you’ll be able to and in case you exit and persist with your recreation plan, you’ll be able to’t fail. Sure, you would possibly make a mistake, however you’ve completed all the things you’ll be able to to make an impression on the sport,” remarked Ponting.
Motivation from Check snub
Regardless of his rejuvenated returns within the home season, the 30-year-old Iyer was missed for India’s 18-member Check squad resulting from tackle England later this month. Talking to the ICC Evaluate, Ponting mentioned that the Mumbaikar has sourced motivation from the snub.
“I truly was gutted…however he’s accepted that actually effectively and he’s moved on.
“He’s simply bought that actual starvation in his eyes to do effectively each time that he performs for us right here and desires to win video games of cricket and desires to evolve and turn into one of the best chief and captain that he could be.”