Why Did Ponting Praise PBKS Despite Final Defeat?

Ahmedabad, June 4 (NationPress) Punjab Kings' head coach Ricky Ponting commended the team’s performance throughout IPL 2025 after they narrowly lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday night.

After opting to bowl first, PBKS successfully limited their opponents to 190/9 in a 20-over match on a solid batting pitch, thanks to outstanding contributions from Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson, who each claimed three wickets.

In response, while Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh provided a strong start, PBKS ultimately fell short, finishing at 184 for 7. Despite a valiant effort from Shashank Singh, who scored an impressive 61 not out off 30 balls, they lost by six runs.

Despite the setback, the head coach highlighted the team's spirit and noted how PBKS had been an entertaining squad throughout the tournament.

"The manner in which we played has made us a highly entertaining team to follow, and as a coach, it’s rewarding to view the team in that light. You might look at tonight's match and ponder if a bit of inexperience in our middle order let us down," Ponting explained at the post-match press conference.

He further emphasized the potential of the younger players, stating, "I believe these young talents (Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera) will be with us for many seasons and will secure numerous victories in the future."

Ponting praised the contributions of the younger players throughout the season, reflecting on his vision for a bold and dynamic team he shared during his initial press conference with Shreyas Iyer.

Despite Shashank's remarkable performance in the final, Ponting disagreed with claims that the pitch was slow, stating that they lost crucial momentum at key moments.

"We have no excuses. Shashank expressed that he felt it was the best pitch he batted on all season. Unfortunately, we lost momentum at a critical moment, particularly during the last few overs of the power play, leading to critical wickets lost," Ponting remarked.

After 11 years, PBKS made it to the playoffs and the IPL final. Looking ahead, Ponting expressed optimism for the future, stating they will return stronger next season.

"Just a couple of days ago, we were celebrating a significant victory that got us to the final, and now we feel like we let an opportunity slip. But with such a young group, we are confident we will come back even stronger next season," he added.

"It's easy to make observations from the outside, but I made it clear upon my appointment as head coach that I wanted to implement significant changes to ensure our approach was different. I believe we have successfully achieved that," he concluded.