Ricky Ponting can’t stop talking about Shreyas Iyer’s match-winning knock against CSK: “I know how hungry he is for success”

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting lauded captain Shreyas Iyer's match-winning knock against CSK at Chepauk.

Ricky Ponting can’t stop talking about Shreyas Iyer’s match-winning knock against CSK: “I know how hungry he is for success”

PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting praised Shreyas Iyer for his match-winning display against CSK. (via Indian Express)

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting heaped praise on PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer for his brilliant match-winning 72 runs off just 41 balls, against Chennai Super Kings, at the Chepauk stadium. PBKS beat CSK by four wickets, to move to the second position on the 2025 IPL standings. 

PBKS’ win over CSK meant that the Shreyas Iyer-led side moved closer to securing a play-offs spot, while it marked the end of Chennai’s hopes of making it into the last four. Batting first, the home side managed to post a total of 190 runs. Sam Curran top-scored for the Men in Yellow with a 88 run knock off 47 balls, while Dewald Brevis continued with his impressive run-scoring form with a crucial 32-run knock. 

Yuzvendra Chahal was the unlikely star of the first innings, as he claimed four wickets in the 19th over of the match. Chahal took a spectacular hat-trick in the penultimate over, restricting Chennai below the 200-run mark. While the 191-run target seemed to be a difficult one for the PBKS batters, they managed to chase it down in 19.4 overs, to record their sixth win of the 2025 IPL season.

Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer scored fifties, while Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh chipped in with crucial runs. The PBKS captain particularly, had a good day out, as he scored 72 runs off 41 balls to win the Player of the Match award. The 30-year-old, who has been in brilliant form this year, both in international cricket and the IPL, hit five fours and four sixes, striking at 175.61.

While Matheesha Pathirana eventually dismissed Iyer in the 19th over, the match had long gone out of CSK’s grasp. PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting noted Shreyas Iyer’s contribution in the victory, while stating that the skipper was disappointed that he did not hit the winning runs. He remarked that Iyer has shown greater confidence in decision-making, while praising his calm demenour and maturity on the field. 

Iyer has been in great form this season, scoring 360 runs in ten matches at an average of 51.43. The ex-Australian captain highlighted it as a reason why he picked Iyer as captain, and claimed that he is ‘hungry’ for success. Further on, Ponting explained how Shreyas Iyer has been inspiring the rest of the PBKS dressing room, while stating that his eyes depict that he wants to see Punjab succeed, this season. 

He’s a lot more confident in himself now than he was, and that comes with experience… His ability to stay calm on the field, his maturity, I think, and that experience. He’s a more mature player now.

Ricky Ponting on Shreyas Iyer (H/T ESPN Cricinfo)

Shreyas Iyer did play a key role in helping Kolkata Knight Riders clinch the IPL title last season. PBKS will be expecting a similar result out of Iyer this season as well,  after having signed him for INR 26.75 crores at the 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer fined for slow-over rate in IPL 2025 encounter against CSK

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined INR 12 lakhs for slow over-rate, during the team’s four-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. This was PBKS’ first over-rate offence in the ongoing IPL season, as they had to position an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle, before the 19th over. 

Shreyas Iyer fined for over-rate
PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer has been fined for slow over-rate, against CSK. (via Times of India)

Iyer has been found guilty of breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. He added his name to list of captains, who have faced similar over-rate penalties this season, including LSG’s Rishabh Pant, GT’s Shubman Gill, RCB’s Rajat Patidar, DC’s Axar Patel, MI’s Hardik Pandya and RR’s Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson. Despite the field restrictions, PBKS did manage to scalp five wickets in their last two overs, against CSK. 

Moreover, Shreyas Iyer has also been handed demerit points by the BCCI, for the over-rate offence. The 30-year-old could face a mandatory one-match suspension, should he repeat the same offence in three consecutive games during the season.