Ricky Ponting Reportedly Gave a Pep Talk to PBKS Players Who Wanted to Leave India After Tensions with Pakistan

Amid India-Pakistan tensions, PBKS coach Ricky Ponting stayed back in India and reportedly persuaded worried overseas players to do the same.

Ricky Ponting Reportedly Gave a Pep Talk to PBKS Players Who Wanted to Leave India After Tensions with Pakistan

PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting reportedly convinced the team's players to stay back in India, for the reminder of the IPL season. (via Rediff)

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting stayed back in India, and reportedly convinced the team’s overseas players to do the same, amid security concerns over tensions between India and Pakistan. Ponting supposedly gave a pep talk to the players, who wished to leave India. 

The BCCI had on Friday, announced its decision to suspend the 2025 IPL season for a week, amidst the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan. The BCCI’s decision was prompted by the abandonment of an IPL encounter between Punjab and Delhi, midway, in Dharamshala. The match had to be called off, after floodlights in the stadium went off and air raid sirens were heard, close to the IPL venue.

Due to the closure of airports across much of northern India, the players and support staff of the two teams had to undertake a tense journey to Delhi via a special train. This unsettling situation led many international players to express a strong desire to leave India for their home countries, driven by fears of a potential war and the subsequent closure of international airspace.

Australian players and support staff members were among the ones who wished to depart immediately. With PBKS’ core being formed by a bunch of Aussie stars, it was the IPL franchise that would have been the most affected. However, the news of a mutual ceasefire between India and Pakistan, prompted PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting to get off his flight in Delhi, and stay back with the team.

Not just that, PBKS CEO Satish Menon even revealed that the former Australian skipper even convinced the team’s anxious foreign players not to leave, and prepare for the resumption of the 2025 IPL season. According to Menon’s account, Ricky Ponting reportedly gave an encouraging pep talk to the PBKS stars, who were hoping to make their way out of the country, and successfully reassured them.

It shows [Ricky] Ponting’s character. Only he could have pulled that off.

PBKS CEO Satish Menon on head coach Ricky Ponting (H/T India Today)

Menon was left in awe by Ponting’s character, observing that the other players quickly changed their minds about departing India, despite their unfamiliarity with a situation resembling war. Reports indicate that a group, led by Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and including Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, and Xavier Bartlett, were the ones initially wanting to leave India but were persuaded to stay on.

South African all-rounder Marco Jansen is the only PBKS’ player who has left the country. However, the 25-year-old and is currently in transit in Dubai, UAE, and will be flying back to India shortly. Most of the other players are still in India and are ready to play, with the BCCI having recently instructed the ten IPL franchises to reassemble, ahead of the season’s resumption.

PBKS-DC game could be replayed when 2025 IPL action resumes

The IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, that had to be called off owing to security concerns, might be replayed once the tournament resumes. The match had to be abruptly abandoned, after floodlights in the stadium went off and air raid sirens were heard in the vicinity. 

PBKS DC match replay
The abandoned match between PBKS and DC could be replayed, after IPL action resumes. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

While reports suggest the game will be replayed following the IPL’s week-long suspension, it’s not yet clear if the match will resume from the exact moment it was stopped or if a completely new game will be played. The current status of the match remains uncounted, and there are strong rumors that the BCCI might shift the venue for this encounter away from Dharamshala.

Just 10.1 overs were bowled in the PBKS vs. DC match. Batting first, the home side had reached 122 runs with only one wicket down, thanks to half-centuries from both openers. Priyansh Arya scored a rapid 70 off 34 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh was unbeaten on 50 from 28 deliveries.