Ponting Hails Iyer as Punjab Kings Finish Top Two | Cricket News
Ricky Ponting heralds Shreyas IyerS captaincy as the Punjab Kings secure a top-two finish in the IPL after over a decade.This remarkable achievement highlights Iyer’s leadership, validating the team’s ample investment in him. The coach praised Iyer, recognizing his impact on the team’s success, and lauded the team’s overall performance in the Indian Premier League. Despite facing a setback with Jansen’s absence, the Kings are poised for the playoffs, fueled by Iyer’s strategic acumen and young talents such as Priyansh Arya.News Directory 3 reports on this captivating IPL season. With momentum on their side, can the Punjab Kings continue their winning streak? Discover what’s next.
ricky Ponting Praises Shreyas Iyer’s IPL Captaincy After Punjab Kings’ Success
Updated May 27, 2025
Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting lauded Shreyas Iyer’s leadership after the team clinched a top-two spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) standings for the first time in 11 years. Ponting credited Iyer for the team’s turnaround, calling him “a man with a sparkle for captaincy.” The Punjab Kings’ IPL performance has been remarkable this season.
Following a seven-wicket victory over mumbai Indians at the sawai Mansingh Stadium, Ponting justified the franchise’s investment in Iyer, who was acquired for a substantial rs 26.75 crore during the mega auction.Ponting had previously coached Iyer at Delhi Capitals.
“it was pretty obvious with the amount of money we spent on him — we wanted him here,” said Ponting. “He’s led this team superbly, from the front. He’s earned the trust of the players, and that’s a big thing. he has that sparkle for captaincy.”
The Shreyas-Ponting duo, who narrowly missed winning the title in 2020 with Delhi, now have two opportunities to reach the final. This advantage is a result of finishing in the top two in the IPL 2025 points table.
ponting acknowledged the significance of the moment and expressed plans for festivity.”We’ll have a couple of drinks and celebrate as a group — not just the 25 players but the 100-odd support staff who’ve traveled with us all season,” he said.
Though, Ponting also addressed the absence of Marco Jansen, who will be participating in the World Test Championship final with South Africa. “He’s a high-quality player and a big miss, but we’ve built enough depth to cope. That’s why Jamieson played tonight,” Ponting explained.
Ponting also highlighted the contribution of Punjab’s young opening duo, notably Priyansh Arya, whose 62 runs off 35 balls against MI was crucial. “He’s one of the finds of the season. Fearless young talent — sees the ball, hits the ball,” Ponting said.
What’s next
With a top-two finish secured, the Punjab Kings now look ahead to the playoffs, aiming to capitalize on thier strong momentum and Iyer’s leadership to secure a spot in the final. The team will need to adjust to Jansen’s absence and continue to rely on their young talents to maintain their competitive edge in the Indian Premier League.