A head coach and captain need to be on the same page to achieve success in a big tournament like the Indian Premier League. Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting worked as a unit in their first season with Punjab Kings, and the results have been encouraging. Punjab are in the final of the 18th season, and one win away from lifting the IPL trophy for the first time since the inception of the tournament in 2008.

While Shreyas has taken all the decisions in the middle, Ricky Ponting has briefed the players, including the captain, before the games and during the strategic timeouts.

Iyer has heaped massive praise on the head of the coaching staff ahead of the IPL final on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. He reflected on Ponting’s influence on the team. He mentioned that Ponting’s calmness and equal treatment of players have motivated everyone.

“Ricky Ponting has been amazing as a coach and he managed the players precisely. One thing that stands out with hin is that he treats everyone equally. That plays a big role whether he is a junior or senior,” he said.

“He doesn’t show emotions regardless of the result. That’s a sign of a successful coach. His speeches before and after the matches are motivational. After the game, we look forward to listening to him. It has been phenomenal to work with him,” he added.

Ponting was with Delhi Capitals for eight seasons and took the team to the final once in 2020. Iyer was the captain of DC in that year. However, Ricky was sacked, and Punjab Kings added him to the team. Under his guidance and Iyer’s leadership, Punjab ended their 11-year playoff drought.

In his debut season with PBKS, Ponting has worked closely with the other members of the franchise and the owners. He was actively involved in the mega auction last year and was the man behind getting Shreyas on board. Several players have credited Ponting for the success in the tournament.