IPL 2026: ‘He must have a lot’ – Ashwin reacts to Ricky Ponting’s lone moment

The Punjab Kings IPL 2026 campaign has reached a critical turning point, with the franchise now on the verge of elimination after their sixth straight defeat, this time against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The loss in Dharamshala not only damaged their play-off hopes but also left head coach Ricky Ponting visibly dejected. When the match ended, Ponting was seen sitting alone in the Punjab Kings dugout, staring silently at the scenic backdrop – a moment that quickly went viral, with former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin describing it as a “powerful image”.Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat that the film captures the emotional weight of Punjab’s collapse in form. While expressing sympathy for both Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, he also pointed to deeper structural issues within the franchise.“I saw a powerful image on TV today after the game. Ricky Ponting was leaning forward in the dugout, all alone. He must have a lot on his mind. They were in the best position to run away and take the top two spots in this tournament. I think they have to ask themselves where they went wrong. I sat in the same chair in 2018. I’m not defending them in the last three teams or the champions, but I’m not defending them well, I’m not playing well, or you’re in Mullanpur you kept winning, then you went to Dharamshala and lost three consecutive home games,” he said.Extending his criticism further, Ashwin questioned the Punjab Kings’ decision to split home matches between Mullanpur and Dharamshala, claiming it disrupted the rhythm and familiarity.“They are young players and even foreign players are struggling. There is a big difference between Mullanpur and Dharamshala in terms of pace and bounce. The ground is the same but the altitude is different. It is also an away game for Punjab. If they win even one of these home games, they would be smiling right away,” he said.“They were defending 220 in Mullanpur against SRH because they know the wicket well. They were training at the venue even before the IPL started. Coaching the pitches is one thing but getting used to the conditions is another. It’s quite disappointing. I feel sorry for Punjab. You shouldn’t be leaving your home ground. If it makes business sense, you can afford it and if you want it to make business sense, but let it make these mistakes, Ricky Ponting will upset, Shreyas Iyer too, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Ashwin added.With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Punjab Kings now head into a must-win final league match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Should Punjab Kings retain the only home venue to improve their performance?