Ricky Ponting was all smiles after Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational heist against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. The head coach couldn’t stop praising captain Shreyas Iyer’s composure and the team’s never-say-die attitude in their six-wicket triumph while chasing 220.
What started as a nightmare for PBKS—with SRH racing to 105 without loss in six overs—turned into a masterclass in revival. The bowling unit, led by tactical brilliance, pegged SRH back to 219. Iyer then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69 from 33 deliveries, steering the ship home.
In the post-match ‘Dressing Room Diaries,’ Ponting dissected the victory. ‘This team is incredibly hard to beat,’ he beamed. ‘We turned what felt like a bad day into a positive one by fighting till the end.’ He reserved special words for Iyer’s bold call to bring on part-timer Shashank Singh, which slowed the game and swung momentum.
‘Batting first against the new ball with such intent—that’s what Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh bring,’ Ponting said. Their 99-run opening blitz in 6.2 overs, featuring Priyansh’s 57 off 20 and Prabhsimran’s 51 off 25, dismantled SRH’s total. PBKS crossed the line in 18.5 overs, claiming the IPL’s largest chase against these foes.
This performance boosts PBKS’s playoff aspirations. Ponting’s optimism reflects a squad firing on all cylinders, ready to dominate the league with strategic depth and batting firepower.
