Ricky Ponting, the newly appointed head coach of Punjab Kings, is really excited about the upcoming IPL 2025 season. He’s been vocal about his goal: to build the best team in the franchise’s history and finally get their first title. In a recent chat with some content creators at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, he expressed his confidence in the squad that’s been put together after the auction.
Ponting, a former World Cup-winning captain from Australia, shared his thoughts about the team’s ambitions. He made it clear that from day one at their training camp in Dharamshala, he had set the tone for a winning culture. “The overall vision for this team is to win the IPL. I told the guys on the very first day that we were going to create the best Punjab Kings team ever. This is a process, and it takes time to build something great, he explained.
He talked about the importance of having the right mindset for winning. Winning is really about attitude. When we play, we want the other team to feel the pressure. If they think they’re going to take something from us, that’s not going to happen, Ponting emphasized. He believes that this mentality is key to the team’s success.
Another point he made is that the mix of young talent and seasoned players will be crucial for the team’s performance this season. He mentioned some rookies who have already caught his eye during practice. “Priyansh Arya stands out as a potential opening batsman. I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen, and depending on our overseas player strategy, he’s got a bright future in this tournament. Suryansh Shedge has also been impressive during training,” he stated.
Ponting was particularly excited about Musheer Khan, praising his energy and personality. “He brings a lot of positivity to the team. His attitude is contagious, and it’s great to see how much fun he’s having in training. I’ve really enjoyed working with him, he said.
On the leadership front, Ponting stressed the necessity of his experienced overseas players to set the right example for the younger players. I rely on the senior guys to lead. The young Indian players often look to the overseas players for guidance, and if they see them not doing the right things, it could influence their behavior. So it’s important for the overseas guys to lead by example, he explained.
As the season kicks off, Punjab Kings will face the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 25. They will follow up with another away match against the Lucknow Super Giants before returning home for two games against the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings. It’s gearing up to be an exciting season, and the fans are hoping to see the team shine under Ponting’s guidance!
