After Shreyas Iyer, Ricky Ponting targetted in unrelentless firing

Former India cricketer Sarandeep Singh has questioned the credit given to Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting for the franchise reaching the IPL 2025 final. Singh stated that domestic coaches of players like Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh also played a crucial role in the team’s performance.

Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, made it to the IPL 2025 final but were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They ended the season without the trophy. It was the second time the Punjab-based franchise lost an IPL final. They previously lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2014 edition of the IPL.

Ricky Ponting Just Made You Play There - Sarandeep Singh

Speaking on Taruwar Kohli’s YouTube channel, Sarandeep Singh said that Ricky Ponting did not contribute anything extraordinary for the Punjab Kings during IPL 2025. Singh stated that the success of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh was due to the hard work of their domestic coaches.

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"Ricky Ponting became the coach of PBKS. Everyone said that he is a very good coach. What different would he have explained? You have performed and gone there. He just made you play there," Sarandeep said.

"If Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran have scored runs, their coaches have worked hard, and by listening to them, they have made these runs. But people say Ricky Ponting told them something different. You can help a bit skill-wise, but during the season, these things can't happen," he added.

It Is Only About Man Management - Sarandeep Singh on Ricky Ponting

Sarandeep Singh stated that selection in the IPL or the Indian team is based on performance rather than improvement. He added that domestic coaches play a crucial role in preparing players for higher-level competitions, even though the environment and experience are different at the top level.

"If you are selected in IPL or India, you are selected to perform. There is no scene of improvement. It is only about man management," Sarandeep opined.

"If you don't perform in domestic, how will you go there? The coaches who have worked with you there know you better and have seen your growth. Yes, the experience and environment are different," he added.

Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh Impressed as Punjab Kings’ Opening Pair

Punjab Kings picked Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh as the opening pair, which proved to be effective in IPL 2025. The young batters added 528 runs at the top of the order at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 178.4.

Priyansh played his debut season after being bought for ₹3.8 crore. He scored 475 runs in 17 matches at an average of 27.94 and a strike rate of 179.24, including a century and two fifties. He showed a fearless approach against some of the best bowlers in the league.

Prabhsimran, who has been with PBKS since 2019, had his most successful season. The right-handed batter scored 549 runs in 17 games at an average of 32.49 and a strike rate of 160.52, including four half-centuries. The duo has not made their international debut.

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