'He has that sparkle for captaincy': Ricky Ponting hails Shreyas Iyer as Punjab Kings secure top-two finish

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting (IPL Photo)

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'We manifested and then we worked hard': Shashank Singh after Punjab Kings seal top-two finish

NEW DELHI: After Punjab Kings clinched a top-two finish in the Indian Premier League standings for the first time in 11 years, head coach Ricky Ponting was full of admiration for skipper Shreyas Iyer , crediting him for the team’s remarkable turnaround and calling him “a man with a sparkle for captaincy.”Following their dominant seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Ponting praised Iyer's leadership and justified the franchise’s whopping Rs 26.75 crore investment in him during the last mega auction.“It was pretty obvious with the amount of money we spent on him — we wanted him here,” said Ponting, who previously coached Iyer at Delhi Capitals. “He’s led this team superbly, from the front. He’s earned the trust of the players, and that’s a big thing. He has that sparkle for captaincy.”The Shreyas-Ponting duo, which fell short of a title in 2020 with Delhi, now finds themselves with two chances to reach the June 3 final — a privilege of finishing in the top two.Ponting acknowledged the emotional moment with plans for celebration. “We'll have a couple of drinks and celebrate as a group — not just the 25 players but the 100-odd support staff who’ve travelled with us all season.”However, the former Australian skipper also addressed a key setback: the unavailability of Marco Jansen, who is heading to the WTC final with South Africa. “He’s a high-quality player and a big miss, but we’ve built enough depth to cope. That’s why Jamieson played tonight.”Ponting also highlighted the role of Punjab’s youthful opening duo, especially Priyansh Arya’s 62(35) against MI. “He’s one of the finds of the season. Fearless young talent — sees the ball, hits the ball,” Ponting said, beaming with pride.

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