Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh has showered praise on captain-coach duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting after they defeated Mumbai Indians by seven wickets at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Monday.
With this win, PBKS have sealed their top-two position and they will play the first qualifier. Shashank said securing the top-two place is half job done and their ultimate goal is to win their maiden IPL title.
Singh lauded Iyer for leading from the front and delivering as a skipper for the Mohali-based franchise. Iyer has scored 514 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 51.40 and a strike rate of 171.91.
“Shreyas is a very dear friend. I’ve known him for the past ten to fifteen years. But playing under him, with him being the captain, it was the best thing that has happened to me, to be very honest,” Shashank said.
“I mean, the way he gives freedom to everyone, not only me but to everyone in the team. And when I say everyone, it’s all twenty-five players, plus the support staff, the people in the content team, media team, logistics, everyone. The way he gives them freedom is something very appreciable about him.
“And the way he has developed a culture in the Punjab Kings side. Obviously, we love each other, we care for each other. That was the main motto of Ricky sir and Shreyas from day one, when we had the meeting. That we need to maintain a culture, we need to care for each other. And obviously, results will take care of themselves.”
Shashank called Ponting the “best coach” he has played under.
“I have mentioned two names before. Brian Lara, sir. And now I am mentioning Ricky Ponting, sir. Because he has changed the team culture. He has changed our mindset. He has changed our belief,” he said. “By far, the best team coach I have ever played under.
Singh also revealed the culture which has been injected into the team’s atmosphere by Ricky Ponting.
“Because obviously he is the one who changed our perspective towards the game. Culture, what I said. Caring about each other. Respecting each other. I mean, it’s very easy to say all these things. Obviously, you need to do this, you need to do that. But again, building it is a different thing. So he made sure that he built it. On day one, he and Shreyas both told us that they will treat Yuzi [Yuzvendra] Chahal, maybe the most senior player, and our bus driver the same. I mean, this is something. And they have maintained this. They have given the same respect to Yuzhi Chahal as they have to our bus driver. So this says a lot about the team.”
Punjab Kings will face either Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier at Chandigarh on Thursday.
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