Mumbai, May 27, 2025 — After securing their first IPL playoff appearance since 2014, Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting struck a balanced tone—celebratory, yet sharply focused. While praising his side’s seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Monday night, Ponting reminded players that their real test lies ahead.
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Led by impressive half-centuries from Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis, PBKS chased down Mumbai’s total with ease, climbing into the top two of the points table and virtually securing the first-place finish due to their superior run rate.
“It’s obvious to see that it’s a quality team, heading in the same direction. But we haven’t done anything yet, that’s what I’ve been telling the players—the big games are to come,” Ponting said post-match. “We’ll celebrate tonight, but we know the job’s not finished.”
Ponting’s Impact and the Young Core
Since taking over ahead of the season, Ponting’s influence has been clear. From the auction table to team dynamics, his blueprint has revitalized Punjab’s campaign. He particularly praised the emergence of young talents like Priyansh Arya, calling him “one of the finds of the tournament,” and acknowledged Prabhsimran Singh, who has scored over 500 runs this season.
“Fearless young talent seeing and hitting the ball. Overseas players like Inglis and [Marcus] Stoinis have been great. Shreyas has been outstanding,” Ponting added, highlighting the strength of the team’s core. “It’s what you need when you need to form a culture.”
Ponting also emphasized the role of captain Shreyas Iyer, who he previously worked with at Delhi Capitals: “Pretty obvious I was keen to work with Shreyas… He’s a quality person and a great leader.”
Injury Concerns and Squad Depth
While the mood in the PBKS camp is upbeat, there’s concern over Marco Jansen’s absence in the playoffs. The South African pacer is set to miss the remainder of the tournament, but Ponting remains optimistic.
“Jansen is a high-quality individual. Tough to replace him, but we’ve got good depth. Jamieson came in tonight to get a game before Marco left. Every team’s missing players, we’re not the only ones.”
He also provided updates on other key players, saying Arshdeep Singh is in good shape and Yuzvendra Chahal is expected to return.
Playoff Mindset
With just one more league match to go and the playoffs looming, Ponting stressed the need for composure and preparation. The team will use their short break to regroup, rest, and strategize.
“We’ve enjoyed each other’s company these ten weeks. Got one more to go,” Ponting said. “We’ll rest players up, get back to training, and be ready.”