Before the IPL 2025 preparations began, Punjab Kings appointed former Australia captain Ricky Ponting as the head coach to revitalise the team, which is yet to win a trophy. Ponting’s tactical acumen, proven as one of the greatest international captains, is unquestioned. Although his coaching record with Delhi Capitals was inconsistent. Punjab Kings assembled a strong squad during the IPL auction and have started the season impressively, winning three of their first five matches.
The decision to spend Rs 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer raised eyebrows, especially since the former KKR captain was out of the Indian team. However, Iyer’s strategic brilliance and batting performance—250 runs at a strike rate of 208.33 in five matches—have made him one of the auction’s best acquisitions.
“I told the team on my first day at the Dharamsala camp that we would create the greatest Punjab Kings side ever,” Ponting said earlier this season, as quoted by the franchise. The squad leaned heavily on Australian players, including Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, and Aaron Hardie, alongside internationals like Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Lockie Ferguson. Their Indian signings were equally impressive, with Arshdeep Singh re-signed and Yuzvendra Chahal acquired at a high price.
Although their form in IPL 2025 has been scrutinised, both players bring undeniable quality. Yes, PBKS had the biggest purse in the auction and could have gone for bigger names, but they chose to go for some shrewd buys and talents who could deliver for them.
A standout feature of Punjab Kings this season has been their young openers, Prabhsimran Singh (133 runs at a strike rate of 160.24) and Priyansh Arya (194 runs at 220.45). While they haven’t scored consistently, the attacking freedom instilled by Ponting and his staff is evident.
Ponting, known as an aggressive batter and captain during his playing days, led a generational Australian team by maximising his resources. His conversation with Arya, who was dismissed for a duck by Jofra Archer against Rajasthan Royals, reflects his mindset. “I spoke to Ricky sir after my first-ball duck, and he told me to hit the same ball out of the ground in the next match,” Arya said. “Shreyas bhaiya also reassured me, saying, ‘You’ll play all 14 matches.’ That backing gave me a lot of confidence.”
Another player that has shone brightly for PBKS has been Nehal Wadhera. The 24-year-old was introduced in the game against LSG, where he smashed an unbeaten 43 before scoring a pugnacious 62 against RR. Wadhera wasn’t even supposed to play against LSG but it was Ponting who took the punt on him.
“We talk about players making an impact, right? You get an opportunity in a T20 game and it’s all about making an impact on the game and on the contest when you can,” Ponting said in his post-match briefing, which PBKS put up on their YouTube channel.
“And Nehal, I know, came today, he only packed one shirt in his bag, because he didn’t think he was going to be taking much of a part in the game. He fielded the last four overs [of the LSG innings] and then I tap him on the shoulder when I saw that they’d made their Impact Sub as a left-arm offspinner, I said, ‘mate, you’re going in’. And I said, ‘make the most of the opportunity, play your way’.”
“It’s a great feeling,” Wadhera said in the PBKS video. “My only thought when I went into bat was that Iyer bhai is set, I shouldn’t allow pressure to creep in on him. And I need to prove Ricky Ponting right for the faith and backing he gave me.”
Ponting has allowed his players to express their natural game while giving captain Iyer ample freedom to lead on the field. Both his players and captain have given him results. This isn’t Ponting-Iyer’s first collaboration; As head coach and captain at Delhi Capitals from 2019 to 2021, they reached the playoffs each year, including the 2020 final. Iyer later led KKR to the IPL 2024 title. “I was desperate to work with Shreyas again,” Ponting said in a pre-season press conference.
“We had a great relationship at Delhi. He’s one of the best players I’ve worked with and a great human being. The captain-coach relationship is vital, and we have a strong one here. Winning is an attitude. If the opposition wants to beat us, it feels like they’re taking something away, and I won’t let anyone take anything from my team.”
With a strong squad, Punjab Kings have enjoyed a fine start to IPL 2025. As the tournament progresses, Ponting will aim to instill a “winning attitude” in his players, with every match, point, and victory critical to their playoff aspirations.