Punjab Kings’ march to their first IPL closing in additional than a decade noticed a number of contributors alongside the best way, however on the coronary heart of it was a easy driving drive: make two decided, assured people who really feel like they’ve some extent to show, to work collectively, and the outcomes comply with. Having been some of the profitable captains within the historical past of the game, as somebody who hated to lose, Ricky Ponting left Delhi Capitals with a mission unfulfilled. Having labored with Ponting at Delhi Capitals to take the franchise into playoffs, and even to a closing, Shreyas Iyer moved to Kolkata Knight Riders the place he led the facet to the title final yr.
However forward of the mega public sale, KKR selected to not retain their championship-winning captain. They made a token try and carry again, however dropped the paddle after Rs 10 crore. DC and PBKS went at it, and Ponting’s desk was stuffed with smiles as they received their man for Rs 26.75 crore. And on that day in Saudi Arabia, the Shreyas-Ponting partnership restarted, culminating within the closing in Ahmedabad. In the long run although, simply because it occurred with DC, the combo fell on the closing hurdle as RCB’s lengthy wait got here to an finish.
It’s, nevertheless, crucial to recognise the work that the previous Aussie captain and one in every of India’s potential leaders sooner or later work in the direction of a typical purpose with a transparent imaginative and prescient from the outset. The title didn’t arrive, however for as soon as, Punjab don’t need to stay up for the long run with uncertainty. The following mini public sale will really really feel that means for a change… only a mini restore job to be accomplished as the inspiration has been laid for this cycle.
Give-and-take equation
And that has been doable as a result of Ponting arrived on the franchise with a transparent mandate, a close to clear slate and an opportunity to construct from the underside up. The primary piece of the puzzle was Shreyas.
“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 homeowners that we wished the very best Indian captain. We received our man. He’s been terrific across the group,” Ponting had instructed The Indian Categorical throughout an Thought Change interplay early within the IPL 2025 season.
At each step of the best way, the coach and captain have spoken about their working relationship. It’s been a case of fixed give-and-take. Shreyas had no hesitation in admitting that Ponting takes care of the tactical planning and he’s blissful to be the man who executes them on the sector. On the flip facet, Ponting has credited Shreyas with making key choices based mostly on his intestine really feel too, it’s not been a case of simply spoon-feeding him.
It was evident early within the season in Ahmedabad towards Gujarat Titans, when PBKS needed to make a late resolution on Impression Sub. “They want 13-14 runs an over. Despatched the message out to Shreyas, asking what do you need to do? He mentioned immediately, simply get Vyshak (Vijaykumar) on the market. He’ll nail a few overs of yorkers.” Vyshak did, saved Sherfane Rutherford quiet, and PBKS closed out a decent match. One other large name later within the event was to advertise Josh Inglis up the batting order, taking Shreyas’ place at No 3. Ponting mentioned that too was Shreyas’ name in case an early wicket fell.
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“I get pleasure from taking part in a little bit of a task with him as we work rather well collectively,” Ponting instructed ICC Overview earlier than the playoffs. “We speak so much collectively concerning the recreation and techniques and, I feel he mentioned final night time ‘that I go away it to Ricky to take care of the tactical stuff and choose the gamers, after which he fingers it over to me and I’m going and execute it out on the sector’. And that’s the best way we’ve labored this yr and it’s been good to get that kind of working relationship again collectively once more.”
One of many questions that was put to Ponting throughout The Indian Categorical Thought Change was whether or not the affect of the coach from the dugout might go as excessive as we see in soccer lately. “I don’t assume a cricket staff coach has the identical affect 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 doable. That’s why I went for Shreyas within the public sale,” Ponting had mentioned.
Shreyas, the person supervisor
For a staff that trusted home uncapped expertise greater than most franchises, the Mumbaikar’s capacity to maintain issues actual helped.
“For those who spoke to the gamers individually, I feel each single one in every of them would give Shreyas a fantastic rap as a result of he has spent loads of time with them,” Ponting mentioned. “He’s pumped them up, he’s given them a pat on the again after they wanted it, and he’s given them a kick within the pants after they’ve wanted it as nicely, which is an indication of a extremely good and powerful chief.”
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Arshdeep Singh with Shreyas Iyer throughout IPL 2025. (Sportzpics for IPL)
It additionally pointed to Shreyas Iyer’s progress through the years. Ponting virtually sees his personal swagger from Shreyas when he walks out to bat however in his interplay with The Indian Categorical earlier this yr, Shreyas spoke of a youthful model of him who wasn’t excessive on confidence when he went to play membership cricket in England. “I made a couple of buddies there, however my English wasn’t that nice. I couldn’t talk correctly. I used to be low on confidence. And I wished a solution to join with individuals and mesmerise them by way of my actions. I assumed magic might be a fantastic icebreaker.”
From there, to being the calming affect for a younger dressing room, Shreyas has come a great distance. And as he mentioned in one of many post-match chats, the Ponting-Shreyas combo positive ‘dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s’ to take Punjab shut. In the event that they follow their weapons, they must be difficult subsequent yr too.
