Punjab Kings (PBKS) clinched a spot in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 with a solid seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Jaipur on Monday. Finishing in the top tier gives them two chances to secure a spot in the IPL 2025 final. After the win against MI, batter Shashank Iyer praised head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Singh for leading the team to their first playoffs since 2014. Shreyas joined PBKS for Rs 26.75 crore after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he won the title last year. Meanwhile, Ponting came on board after his time with Delhi Capitals (DC).
Shashank now has the opportunity to be the first captain to win two consecutive IPL titles with different teams. He commented on how Ponting and Shreyas have brought a positive change to the team’s culture. “On Day 1, Ricky and Shreyas told us they would treat Yuzvendra Chahal, our most senior player, the same way as our bus driver,” Shashank said after the match. “That speaks volumes about the team.”
He also talked about how Ponting has helped boost the self-belief among the players. “He’s changed the team culture and our mindset. He’s shifted how we look at the game. Caring and respecting each other is key,” Shashank shared. “It’s easy to say these things, but actually building that belief is another story. He made sure that our dress room had the right culture.”
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