Punjab Kings kept their playoff hopes alive with a commanding seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants, and the result brought immediate praise for captain Shreyas Iyer from head coach Ricky Ponting. Iyer’s unbeaten 101 off 51 balls gave PBKS the chase they needed after a six-match losing streak and also delivered his maiden IPL century.
Ponting framed the innings as proof that Punjab had backed the right player when they made a major auction investment in him. “There’s a reason I spent as much money at the auction as I did a couple of years ago,” he said, pointing to Iyer’s maturity, control, and leadership in pressure moments.
Iyer leads the chase when PBKS needed it most
Punjab chased 197 in just 18 overs after falling into early trouble, but Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh turned the game with a 140-run stand for the third wicket. Prabhsimran hit 69 off 39 balls and once again underlined his value at the top, while Iyer finished the job without losing his wicket.
Ponting said the victory came with flaws still visible in the field, but he described the chase as clinical. “We’ve done it the hard way, let’s put it that way,” he said, while also noting that Punjab had given away about 20 more runs than they should have.
Why Ponting values Shreyas Iyer so highly
The PBKS coach did not limit his praise to the century alone. He spoke about Iyer as a leader who earns total trust inside the dressing room and keeps his emotions under control on the field.
Ponting called him “a ripping guy” and said the respect he receives from teammates is unmatched. He added that when Iyer addresses the group, every player listens closely, which reflects the captain’s influence beyond runs and strike rate.
Punjab’s season still depends on other results
The win lifted Punjab to fourth place with 15 points from 14 matches, but their playoff position is not secure yet. Their fate depends on the outcome of Rajasthan Royals’ match against Mumbai Indians, with PBKS needing Rajasthan to lose to remain in the top four.
Ponting admitted the team’s late slump had made qualification more difficult. He said Punjab had played at a level in the first half of the season that he had “never seen before,” but costly errors in the last six games changed the picture sharply.
Ponting also singles out Prabhsimran Singh
While Iyer grabbed the headlines, Ponting also praised Prabhsimran for another strong performance. He said the young batter has grown in self-belief over the past couple of seasons and described him as a “terrific player” who played a mature innings in a high-pressure chase.
Ponting added that Prabhsimran and Priyansh have been outstanding for Punjab across recent seasons, and he suggested the latest knock would further strengthen the opener’s confidence. With Punjab now waiting on Sunday’s result, the squad is set to gather and watch the decisive fixture together.
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