Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting is thrilled to reunite with team captain Shreyas Iyer Punjab Kings for the IPL 2025 season. Having previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), where Iyer led the team under Ponting’s mentorship, the duo shares a strong professional bond. Iyer, who recently guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title in 2024, was signed by PBKS for a staggering ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.
PBKS’ Squad Revamp for IPL 2025
Ahead of the mega auction, PBKS retained only two players—Shashank Singh for ₹5.50 crore and Prabhsimran Singh for ₹4 crore. However, they made significant additions to the squad, securing key players like Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore each, along with Marcus Stoinis for ₹11 crore.
Shreyas Iyer’s Confidence in Ricky Ponting’s Leadership
Ricky Ponting, eager to work with Shreyas Iyer again, shared his admiration for the star batter. Ricky Ponting
“He’s a great human being. He’s an IPL winning captain. You couldn’t ask for much more. He’s only joined the camp a couple of days ago. So he’s starting to make his mark on the team as a captain and as a leader,”
“We’ve put a great squad together. As you know, captain-coach relationship in any team is vital. And I know that we’ve got a really good strong one here,”
“You see in some places there is a senior-junior culture. But when I worked with him for the first time, he made me feel like I’m a great player. And I can easily excel in this format. So, the confidence he gives is of a different level,” he added.
The confidence that Ricky Ponting gives is of a different level- Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer & Ricky Ponting were a part of DC from 2018-2021. The franchise under reached the playoffs for the first time in the 2019 edition. Shreyas Iyer pointed out that Ricky Ponting brought the best out of him. PBKS skipper stated that Ponting doesn’t differentiate between players in the squad.
“He’s one of the best players that I’ve worked with. I’ve worked with him for almost three years in a franchise. And I know how he thinks about every individual on and off the field. He supports everyone,” said Shreyas Iyer.
“You see in some places there is a senior-junior culture. But when I worked with him for the first time, he made me feel like I’m a great player. And I can easily excel in this format. So, the confidence he gives is of a different level,” he added.
PBKS Aiming for a Strong IPL 2025 Campaign
With a revamped squad and the reunion of Ponting and Iyer, PBKS is setting its sights on a strong IPL 2025 season. Both coach and captain are optimistic about building a competitive team and leading Punjab Kings to success in the upcoming tournament.