How Did Shashank Singh Credit Ponting and Iyer for a Cultural Reset in PBKS's Historic Title Chase?

Jaipur, May 27 (NationPress) Shashank Singh, a key player for Punjab Kings, acknowledged the pivotal roles of head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer in transforming the team's belief, culture, and leadership style. This transformation comes after the Kings secured a top-two finish in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

The victory against the Mumbai Indians marked a significant milestone for the Kings, bringing them closer to their aspiration of clinching the title. However, Shashank emphasized that the true celebration would unfold on June 3.

This win elevated PBKS to the top of the leaderboard with 19 points. Although, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could match this score if they triumph in their last group-stage match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

"Achieving a top-two finish is just the first half of the journey. The real challenge awaits on June 3, when we will have a press conference at midnight. That will be the moment I declare, 'yes, we are at the top of the world,'" Shashank stated during the post-match press conference.

“Honestly, it feels surreal and incredibly satisfying. The most rewarding aspect is that we manifested as a team — not just individually but collectively. After the auctions, we created a WhatsApp group to share our vision of winning the title this year. Our initial goal was to secure a top-two finish, and we've successfully cleared that hurdle.

"Manifestation is one thing, but belief is another. We put in hard work, and the credit goes to our management, support staff, and every individual involved. We organized multiple camps prior to the IPL, and our results reflect that dedication. Being in the top two is commendable, especially in a competitive league like the IPL."

As the conversation shifted to the media's inquiry about whether they felt like champions already, Shashank responded firmly.

A top-two finish guarantees PBKS a place in Qualifier 1 of the playoffs, providing a safety net of a second chance even if they lose their initial match. While this offers a significant advantage in their pursuit of their first IPL title, Singh stressed the importance of not becoming complacent.

"We are not at the top of the world just yet. What we have aspired for is still ahead of us. We relish each other's successes. Even if we hadn't qualified in the top two, we would still be proud of our achievement. But it’s just half the job done. As Shreyas pointed out in our last meeting, qualification is just half the task completed."

He reiterated, “The full job will be completed on June 3. Late at night, during our press conference, I will confirm that ‘yes, we are at the top of the world’.”

Shashank expressed deep admiration for his long-time friend and captain Shreyas Iyer, stating, "Shreyas is a very dear friend whom I've known for over a decade. Playing under his captaincy is among the best experiences of my life.”

"His ability to grant freedom to everyone — not just to me, but to all 25 players, support staff, and even those in logistics and media — is truly commendable.”

“The culture within the Punjab Kings has evolved significantly. We genuinely care for one another, which was emphasized by both Ricky sir and Shreyas during our initial meeting. They stressed the importance of maintaining a supportive culture, assuring us that results will follow.”

Shashank also reserved praise for Ponting: "He has transformed our team culture, mindset, and belief. All the credit goes to him for changing our perspective on the game. Right from day one, he and Shreyas emphasized treating every member — from our senior player Yuzi Chahal to our bus driver — with equal respect. This speaks volumes about our team dynamics."

The Kings will be without Marco Jansen, who has played every game for PBKS this season as he heads off to participate in the World Test Championship final.