Synopsis
Nehal Wadhera of Punjab Kings credits Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer for their pivotal roles in the team's surprising 16-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. Despite defending a mere 111 runs, PBKS triumphed by bowling out KKR for 95, marking a historic achievement.Key Takeaways
- Nehal Wadhera acknowledges Ricky Ponting’s leadership.
- Shreyas Iyer’s energy boosts team morale.
- PBKS defended the lowest total in IPL history.
- Yuzvendra Chahal was instrumental with 4 wickets.
- Punjab Kings advanced to fourth in the points table.
New Delhi, April 16 (NationPress) Punjab Kings’ batsman Nehal Wadhera has acknowledged head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer for motivating the team to achieve a remarkable 16-run victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 31 of IPL 2025. PBKS successfully defended a mere 111 runs – the lowest ever defended in IPL history – by bowling out KKR for just 95.
During the post-match press conference, Wadhera commended Ponting’s optimistic approach and how it elevated the team’s spirit, even after being bowled out for a low score.
“I have never heard a negative word from him. When your coach possesses such a character and motivates everyone, even after we were all out for 111, he simply stated, 'Alright, today our bowlers must step up. I need some fierce spells today.' Automatically, when players hear such remarks from our coach, it boosts our confidence,” Wadhera expressed during the post-match press briefing.
Punjab’s bowlers rose to the occasion. Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 wickets for 28 runs, while Marco Jansen contributed with 3 wickets for 17 runs, effectively bowling KKR out.
Wadhera also highlighted skipper Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, stating that his presence and energy empowered the team to believe in themselves.
“I think it was evident on the field, and it’s all thanks to his pep talks and Shreyas Iyer. The way he energizes everyone makes him one of the finest captains I’ve ever played under. He excels with the bat and in his captaincy. His leadership is truly commendable,” he added.
With this victory, Punjab Kings climbed to fourth place on the points table with eight points from six matches. They are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18.
