Ponting Applauds Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership After PBKS Secure Qualifier 1 Spot with Win Over Mumbai Indians
Shreyas Iyer’s Captaincy Sparks PBKS Revival as Ponting Hails INR 26.75 Cr Gamble
Shreyas Iyer has lived up to his massive INR 26.75 crore price tag in IPL 2025, guiding Punjab Kings to their first playoff appearance in 11 years — and not just scraping through, but sealing a top-two finish. PBKS clinched a dominant seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, confirming their place in Qualifier 1, where they’ll meet either RCB or Gujarat Titans on May 29.
Head coach Ricky Ponting, who previously worked with Iyer at Delhi Capitals, revealed that his strong desire to reunite with the Indian star was a key reason behind the franchise’s aggressive bid.
“I was pretty keen to work with Iyer again,” Ponting said. “We made a final in Delhi under his captaincy. He’s a quality person and a quality player. When you’re trying to build a new culture, that’s what you need.”
‘We haven’t achieved anything yet’
Punjab Kings may have sealed a historic top-two finish in IPL 2025, but head coach Ricky Ponting insists the real challenge begins now. Following a clinical seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians — their sixth in the last seven games — Ponting praised his side’s unity and hard work but cautioned against complacency.
“I’m obviously very pleased for the group. It’s taken a lot of effort to get here,” Ponting said after the win. “But if you look at it, we haven’t achieved anything yet. That’s what I’ve been telling the players since we qualified. The big games are still ahead.”
Punjab will now look to carry their momentum into Qualifier 1, where a direct ticket to the IPL 2025 final awaits.