‘I spent big on Shreyas Iyer for some reason’: Ricky Ponting after PBKS revive playoff hopes

Mullanpur: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, left, with head coach Ricky Ponting (PTI Photo) Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting heaped praise on captain Shreyas Iyer after the PBKS skipper produced a sensational unbeaten century to keep the franchise alive in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Punjab ended their six-match losing streak with a commanding seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday as they chased down 197 in just 18 overs. Shreyas led the charge with an excellent 101 not out off 51 balls, registering his first IPL century, while Prabhsimran Singh hammered 69 off 39 balls in a winning stand of 140 runs for the third wicket. Reflecting on the win, Ponting admitted that Punjab had endured a difficult journey in recent weeks, but credited the team for responding under pressure. “We did it the hard way, let’s put it that way. We did what we needed to do today. Careless in the field again, gave them 20 more runs than they should have. Nice clinical chase, especially when we struggled early on,” Ponting said after the match. The former Australian captain reserved special praise for Shreyas as he revealed why Punjab invested so much in him at the auction, praising his leadership and temperament. “Captain, he has done it all season. Tonight is his first IPL century. We will celebrate and then sit and wait for the results tomorrow,” he said. “There’s a reason why I spent as much money in the auction as I did a few years ago (on Iyer). He’s an outgoing guy, now a very mature player, a very mature leader. He keeps his emotions in check on the field for the most part. The respect he gets from his players is second to none.” Ponting also highlighted the influence that Shreyas has inside the dressing room and said that the PBKS players have fully bought into their captain’s leadership. “The moment he gets in front of the group and speaks, not one eye leaves a single word he says. I’m happy to work with him. Really happy for the season he’s having,” Ponting added. The PBKS coach also backed Shreyas for a bigger role in India’s white ball setup in the future. “It’s great to see him back in the Indian team one day. I really think he has a bigger and brighter future in the Indian T20 team,” he said. Punjab’s win lifted them to fourth place with 15 points from 14 matches, although their play-off hopes still depend on results elsewhere. Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians on Sunday and PBKS need Rajasthan to lose to stay in the top four. Ponting admitted a dramatic dip in form for Punjab after their campaign was marred by a strong first half of the season. “The level of cricket we played in the first half was a level I’ve never seen before. And then we made some crucial mistakes at different times in the last six games,” he said. The Australian great also praised Prabhsimran Singh for continuing his impressive season and credited the young starter’s growing confidence. “A great player. He’s probably only realized how good he is in the last couple of years. He and Priyansh have been outstanding for us in recent seasons. To see him play a mature innings in a good run tonight will do him good,” Ponting said. With Punjab’s fate now hanging on Sunday’s results, Ponting revealed that the team will be keeping a close eye on the remaining playoff-deciding matches. “We’ll try to get the boys together and watch it (the RR-MI game),” he concluded.